By just about any account, the Los Angeles Kings had a prettyordinary regular season, finishing third in the Pacific Divisionand barely making their way into the NHL playoffs as a number eightseed. It was right about that time the 2012 version of the “Miracleon Manchester” began to happen when the team came together tosystematically dismantle their opponents while tying a league bestpostseason record of 16-4 on their way to winning the StanleyCup.

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

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

Just Believe

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

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

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

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

Team ownership recognized the challenges and took proactivesteps to solve it. Ownership hired Coach Sutter midseason, and heprovided the team with the simple vision of ending the Stanley Cupdrought in the City of Angels. Sutter immediately guided the teamin the right direction by simply focusing on a back to basicsapproach to the game. The same idea can work in any organization:knowing what to do, when to do it and then acting withouthesitation is what defines leaders from followers.

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

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

Sports can teach us many lessons. Perhaps the most important isto never give up, never lose faith. The Kings demonstratedremarkable grace under pressure. The faithful in the Southlandstood by their team, despite a long history of disappointment onManchester.

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 isalways room for improvement. By trying new solutions, looking tobusiness partners with unique expertise, and learning from thepractices across the business landscape, organizations can quicklypoise 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, pleaseplan on attending my seminar “The Insatiable Curiosity” onThursday, June 28th at 2:30 p.m., followed by a book signing at theClaims Magazine Booth. After that the day wraps up with aforum on “Competencies in the Workforce,” where I will joinDisney's Bob Weise, Amica assistant vice president Jeff Gagnon, andState Farm's Lori Smith focused on hiring, training, and retainingfuture talent in your organization.