Let Them Lead - by John U Bacon (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An uplifting and compelling leadership book based on the hard-earned lessons learned by the author when he was head coach of the Ann Arbor Huron High School ice hockey team, about how he motivated, engaged, and empowered his players to go from being ranked as the absolute worst team in the nation to one of the country's best"--

Book Synopsis

An uplifting leadership book about a coach who helped transform the nation's worst high school hockey team into one of the best. Bacon's strategy is straightforward: set high expectations, make them accountable to each other, and inspire them all to lead their team.

When John U. Bacon played for the Ann Arbor Huron High School River Rats, he never scored a goal. Yet somehow, years later he found himself leading his alma mater's downtrodden program. How bad? The team hadn't won a game in over a year, making them the nation's worst squad--a fact they celebrated. With almost everyone expecting more failure, Bacon made it special to play for Huron by making it hard, which inspired the players to excel. Then he defied conventional wisdom again by putting the players in charge of team discipline, goal-setting, and even decision-making - and it worked. In just three seasons the River Rats bypassed 95-percent of the nation's teams.

A true story filled with unforgettable characters, stories, and lessons that apply to organizations everywhere, Let Them Lead includes the leader's mistakes and the reactions of the players, who have since achieved great success as leaders themselves. Let Them Lead is a fast-paced, feel-good book that leaders of all kinds can embrace to motivate their teams to work harder, work together, and take responsibility for their own success.

Review Quotes

"A great read, and a great message. Empowering your team is the best path to success." -- Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors

"Brimming with brilliant, concrete and actionable insights on leadership. Bacon's a born storyteller. Some of his stories will inspire you, others will tug at your heartstrings. Some will do both- like the tale of the third string, quiet goalie who led his team to a championship season. But all of these stories will keep you turning the pages. This is the leadership book you've been looking for." -- Susan Cain, author of the New York Times bestseller, Quiet

"Let Them Lead is where Ted Lasso meets the Mighty Ducks." -- Dan Shaughnessy, The Boston Globe

"Practical, readable, lively, compelling, thought-provoking. This is a volume worth returning to for insight and inspiration." -- John Young, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"It is not just a high-school hockey book, and it is not just a self-help book for aspiring bosses, teachers and coaches...[it's] a must-read book for those who want to learn more about that pursuit." -- Bill Bender, The Sporting News

"A heartfelt narrative about the leadership skills [Bacon] learned when he returned to his alma mater to coach the lowest-ranked high school hockey team in Michigan... Interspersed are moving stories about the confidence, motivation, and humility the players gained. These valuable lessons will inspire readers regardless of whether they've ever picked up a hockey stick." -- Publishers Weekly

"This feel-good tome resonates whether you're a coach or a corporate type. It's an easy read, and you'll take a lot from it." -- John Johnson, Michigan High School Athletic Association

"Excellent -- it transcends hockey and sports. Great for coaches, parents, players and leaders in all walks of life." -- Nick Cotsonika, NHL.com

"Highly recommended. To call it a great sports book is to dramatically undersell it. There's something in it for everyone -- a must read." -- Keith Gave, author, The Russian Five, and director, The Russian Five documentary

"John's great stories show us why we need to work together to be successful. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and you will too." -- Jim Hackett, retired president and CEO, Ford Motor Company

"'My way or the highway' simply doesn't work anymore, especially with younger, intellectually curious men and women. So what does? Bacon knows: start with high expectations, make them accountable to each other, and before you know it, they're leading the team. That's how everybody wins - and that's how they learn life's valuable lessons, too. John Bacon and his crew delivered and Let Them Lead will deliver for you, too." -- D. Michael Abrashoff, author of New York Times bestseller It's Your Ship

"In one of the most inspiring turnaround stories I've ever read, John Bacon outlines thoughtful, relatable, and actionable insights that any leader can deploy with winning results." -- Geoff Martha, Chairman and CEO, Medtronic

"Every leader who has thought 'Why can't I find good people?' will benefit from this book. [Bacon] is a masterful storyteller, but this isn't a sports story. This is a life story -- personal, dramatic, impactful - that will set you on a leadership journey that you will absolutely love. Buy it, read it, live it and change your world for the better." -- Richard Sheridan, CEO, Menlo Innovations, author of Chief Joy Officer

About the Author

JOHN U. BACON's byline has appeared in numerous national publications, including Time, the New York Times, and ESPN Magazine. He has authored seven national bestsellers on sports, business, health, and history. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.