A Coaching Legend's 16 Goals for Success

When Bill Snyder stepped onto the campus of Kansas State University for his first day as head football coach in 1989, he inherited the worst program in all of Division 1.

Kansas State hadn’t just had a few downtrodden seasons. It was historically bad, going 299-510 over 93 years. The school had been to just one bowl game in its history, and its sparse attendance for home games had almost relegated it from Division 1.

Snyder’s initial focus wasn’t on improving his talent base or overhauling the locker room. Instead, his top priority was implementing his “16 Wildcat Goals for Success.” He held coaches, players and staff accountable to these and made them carry a laminated card at all times that listed them. If you failed to have your card, you had failed the program.

The goals were not flashy or revolutionary, but when the leader forces everyone to be accountable, buy-in increases. Snyder outlines his leadership philosophy in his recently-released book, “Bill Snyder: My Football Life and the Rest of the Story.”

1. Commitment — To common goals and to being successful.

2. Unselfishness — There is no ‘I’ in TEAM.

3. Unity — Come together as never before.

4. Improve — Every day… as a player, person, and student.

5. Be Tough — Mentally and physically.

6. Self-Discipline — Do it right, don’t accept less.

7. Great Effort

8. Enthusiasm

9. Eliminate Mistakes — Don’t beat yourself up.

10. Never Give Up — Never…never…never.

11. Don’t Accept Losing — If you do so one time it will be easy to do so for the rest of your life.

12. No Self-Limitations — Expect more of yourself.

13. Expect To Win — And truly believe we will.

14. Consistency — Your very, very best every time.

15. Leadership — Everyone can set an example.

16. Responsibility — You are responsible for your own performance.

These goals go way beyond building football programs. They can really serve as the foundation for turning around any floundering team, organization or business, or even our own personal lives.

What made Snyder so successful was that he lived these principles every day, constantly reinforcing them to his players and coaches in both their football and personal lives.

When Snyder needed more from the coaches, he evaluated their performance with candor and provided insightful instruction. No one was immune to his judgment of the 16 goals because they saw what a tireless worker he was. Once Kansas State found some success, he asked for more from his players, coaches and staff.

Snyder made history, not simply for his 16 principles, but for his unrelenting dedication to them.

There is an old saying: “You become what you want to become,” an adage Snyder embodied.

We as leaders have the opportunity to do the same.