By just about any account, the Los Angeles Kings had a pretty ordinary regular season, finishing third in the Pacific Division and barely making their way into the NHL playoffs as a number eight seed. It was right about that time the 2012 version of the “Miracle on Manchester” began to happen when the team came together to systematically dismantle their opponents while tying a league best postseason record of 16-4 on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.

So just how is it that a seemingly ordinary team pulled off the seemingly unthinkable season? It has to start with goalie Jonathan Quick who had a .946 save average, meaning that he gave up just over a goal per game.

The team also had great leadership both on and off the ice. Team Captain Dustin Brown had a knack for rallying his team behind his big hits and big goals. He led the NHL in playoff hits this year and tied for league scoring. Coach Darryl Sutter transitioned into the role midseason and immediately demanded accountability. It was through his emphasis on fundamental execution that the Kings were even able to sneak their way into the playoffs.

Just Believe

What the Kings demonstrated was a belief in themselves. They recognized that their regular season performance wasn't at the level it should have been. By taking a step back and reflecting on the mistakes of the past, they were able to conquer the future.

Business leaders looking for improvement can use this same paradigm. The truth is, most teams, whether in sports or business, are pretty ordinary. They have a similar mix of talent with A, B and C contributors. It is how leadership leverages this talent that defines ultimate outcomes.

So what does this mean for your organization? Can you become your industry's version of the Los Angeles Kings? By focusing on basic blocking and tackling, anything becomes possible. When we lose focus on the basic mechanics, the result is process aberrations and deteriorating results.

The Kings succeeded because there was a recognition that things had to change. Just before Christmas, the team was barely over .500. They lacked of consistency and fluid play on the ice. Lack of accountability fostered by a lack of leadership only exacerbated the problem.

Team ownership recognized the challenges and took proactive steps to solve it. Ownership hired Coach Sutter midseason, and he provided the team with the simple vision of ending the Stanley Cup drought in the City of Angels. Sutter immediately guided the team in the right direction by simply focusing on a back to basics approach to the game. The same idea can work in any organization: knowing what to do, when to do it and then acting without hesitation is what defines leaders from followers.

Despite this no nonsense approach, it was still a stretch to enter the playoffs, but by playoff time nobody wanted to face the Kings. Consistent improvement throughout the spring made this team a formidable opponent, far beyond their number eight seeding.

This team rolled through the second half of the season, into the playoffs and quickly dispatched the top seeded teams before facing off against the New Jersey Devils. They then did the unthinkable, becoming the first number eight seed in history to win the most historic trophy in all of sports: the Stanley Cup.

Sports can teach us many lessons. Perhaps the most important is to never give up, never lose faith. The Kings demonstrated remarkable grace under pressure. The faithful in the Southland stood by their team, despite a long history of disappointment on Manchester.

For the rest of us, it reminds us that we can always do better. No matter how well one may think they are performing, there is always room for improvement. By trying new solutions, looking to business partners with unique expertise, and learning from the practices across the business landscape, organizations can quickly poise themselves for tremendous success.

As a closing note, if you happen to be attending America's Claims Event, June 27-29, 2012 in Las Vegas, please plan on attending my seminar “The Insatiable Curiosity” on Thursday, June 28th at 2:30 p.m., followed by a book signing at the Claims Magazine Booth. After that the day wraps up with a forum on “Competencies in the Workforce,” where I will join Disney's Bob Weise, Amica assistant vice president Jeff Gagnon, and State Farm's Lori Smith focused on hiring, training, and retaining future talent in your organization.

Special Reports /

Pulling Off The Unthinkable

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