Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team

by John U. Bacon

"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"--

Genres: Sports, Leadership, Nonfiction, Business, Audiobook, Education, Hockey

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2021

About the author

John U. Bacon is an American journalist and author of books on sports and business as well as a sports commentator on TV and radio.

Reviews

[Zach Heller · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2014, as a freshman at Central Michigan University, I took part in a leadership class during the spring semester. It was something that I wasn't taking seriously, given my age and my impending transfer to Ohio State in the fall, a lifelong dream. During the final weeks of the course, my teacher invited a speaker to come give a presentation. I didn't give it much thought, until the speaker came into the room. That was Mr. Bacon, ready to give us an hour of his time. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had seen him somewhere before, until it struck me that he had filmed an interview for a segment in Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry for HBO. Being a lifelong Buckeye fan (and soon to be graduate), I thought it was funny that I had the chance to interact with this Michigan man. I walked up to him after the class and told him about my impending attendance for Ohio State and was pleasantly surprised when he met my news with congrats and best wishes. He was nothing but courteous.

Clearly, I never forgot that class or Mr. Bacon's kind gesture. Starting at Ohio State, I read his books voraciously, given that we had copies at the campus library. I've been a loyal reader ever since, appreciating Mr. Bacon's fast-paced style and, especially, his ability to find a type of gruff Midwest humor in almost any situation. I think that Mr. Bacon's secret weapon as a writer is to find the angle that nobody expects him to. For example, in his book Overtime, I expected a good story about Michigan football, told by a great writer. Instead, I got an all-access look at the sheer amount of hours, resources, and people that it takes to run a major college football program. While I had been hooked on his work before, I became even more entrenched after that. Remember, I am a loyal Buckeye graduate who usually wants nothing to do with the University of Michigan (or, as we call them, That Team/School Up North).

All of his traits are exemplified in his latest work, Let Them Lead. Telling the story of his four years coaching at Huron High School, bringing the worst hockey team in the country up to become one of the best, Mr. Bacon digs deep into the style of leadership that he instilled into his players. His secret angle this time was discovering invaluable lessons of leading people within something like high school sports. Unsurprisingly, the novel was wonderful. In my future work (God willing, an ordained priest within the Greek Orthodox Church), I hope to implement some of these lessons within my community, knowing that investing in people is a sure-fire way to achieve purpose, success, and a common goal. The book is full of humor, honesty, and, most importantly, humanity. That is something that we have lost in the social media age. There is timeless advice in here, especially as it relates to building relationships within organizations and, most importantly, betting on people.

Again, it is not surprising that Mr. Bacon has written another stellar book. The worst part of finishing a John U. Bacon book is knowing that I have to wait until he writes another one! I cannot recommend this work highly enough, given how I finished it in one sitting. It will be a permanent fixture on my bookshelf as a testament to Mr. Bacon's kind gesture all of those years ago at Central Michigan (and his continued willingness to engage with my goofy musings on Twitter since).

[Debbie Hannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a John U. Bacon book (and I always refer to him with the U although I have no idea what that middle name could be. His name feels naked without it).
Thanks for making me cry a few times while reading. More often than not, I found myself shaking my head in agreement with you. Some particularly good passages were screen-shot and sent to my husband, a manager who often asks me how to motivate people at work. I finally just said, please read the book, you’ll get some ideas.
A good story with a lifetime of lessons learned about leadership.

[Marichka Blindiuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Якщо вам дуже хочеться нового сезону Теда Лассо і нема сили терпіти, можна почитати про цю американську хокейну команду, історія якої цілком могла надихнути серіал.

Імовірно найгірший гравець команди через багато років повертається в школу, щоби тренувати збірну старшокласників, в якої вже декілька років тримається антирекорд — найгірша збірна США. Ну і починається. Дуже мила історія, щоби по дорозі зрозуміти, як розкрити лідерський потенціал навіть у двієчнику.

[Jerry Coe · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and son have been involved in a few high school sports. Really fun to see Bacon describe things that I have seen their coaches do. Enjoyable read and makes me appreciate the good coaches they’ve had the opportunity to play for.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely readable book. Great storytelling of the hockey turn around team layered with leadership advice for any situation.

[Patrick Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love hockey and high school sports, but this is about so much more than that. I was in tears by the end of a very well written book on leadership and love.

[Anthony Scardino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this book and took a lot from it. Recommend it to anyone who is starting a new team, management position, or with a new company.

[EV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book with practical leadership tips applicable to any facet of life. Well-written and an overall great story. Have already recommended to many people!

[Drew Denham · Rating 5 out of 5]

〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️
5/2024

🚨 Positive peer pressure is essential to letting your people lead. You need to make them accountable to each other, not just you. They will become more obligated to each other than they do their leader and you won’t burn out trying to manage everyone every minute of the day. Page 175 - penalty example.

🚨The players quickly figured out that none of their coaches would ever take credit for their success. If you take credit for their success, they will never work as hard for you again. Give away credit and accept the blame.

💭 Make it special to be on your team, make it hard to be on your team.

💛 Great leaders always know their people. Always. And that’s why the best leaders make that their top priority.

“Incredulous" is an adjective used to describe a person who is unwilling or unable to believe something. It means showing disbelief or skepticism. For example, "She gave him an incredulous look when he told her the news," implies that she found the news hard to believe.

"Catatonic" is an adjective used to describe a state of unresponsiveness or immobility, often associated with a lack of movement and expression. This term is commonly used in a medical or psychological context to describe a severe state of mental and motor dysfunction, such as that found in certain psychiatric disorders like catatonic schizophrenia. For example, "The patient remained in a catatonic state, showing no reaction to external stimuli."

A soliloquy is a dramatic monologue in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, often while alone on stage, giving the audience insight into their inner feelings and motivations. It is a common device in plays, particularly in the works of William Shakespeare. For example, Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" speech is one of the most famous soliloquies in literature.

"Contrite" is an adjective that describes a feeling of remorse or guilt for having done something wrong. A contrite person shows sincere regret and sorrow for their actions. For example, "He offered a contrite apology for his mistake," indicates that his apology was heartfelt and he genuinely felt sorry for what he had done.

Put people in leadership roles for their ability to lead, not because they are the best salesperson, attorney, etc.

💭 If you’re a leader, you’ll be criticized. It’s unavoidable, so take criticism as a compliment.

💛 “I don’t know anything that motivates people more than praising them sincerely, in front of their peers - and it’s free.

Deion Sanders famously said “You look good, you feel good”. You feel good, you play good.”

💛 When your people quit bringing you their problems, you quit being their leader.

💭 The very best leaders listen to what their people are saying.

💭 Thank your people for sharing an idea.

💛 Work hard! Support your teammates!

- The more you share, the more they’re going to share.

💭 “Managment by walking around” is essential to your success - provided you’re just checking in, with no agenda.

💭 You have to work harder than your people do - and they need to see that.

You want people who are passionate about your organization and the kind of work they’ll be doing for you.

💭 Don’t tell me who you are. Show me.

💭 Don’t play favorites. Water all your plants equally, and watch who grows.

💭 Don’t try to predict who’s going to succeed and who isn’t. Get out of the prediction business. Get into the production and promotion business.

💭 If you want people to trust you, you have to trust them first.

Employees recruit employees, so you better hire good ones.

Begging someone to work for you is as ill advised as begging someone to marry you. Worst case scenario: they say yes.

💭 Never make rules you won’t enforce.

💭 What other people think of you is none of your business.

💭 Loose-tight Managment / being strict on two rules - it avoids a leaders vs. labor dynamic and prevents your people from burning out.

💭 Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

“I ruined your summer. Now go ruin their night!”

Praise sandwich - praise - criticism - praise

“Your character is what you do when you think no one is watching.”

We wanted the players, not the coaches, to run the team - and they did.

💭 When you set clear boundaries, you invite people to be their own bosses.

💭 If you let them keep showing up without meeting your team’s standards, you’ve just told everyone that you really weren’t serious about your standards at all, and your word is no good.

💭 Be patient with your team’s results, but impatient with their behavior.

- Be the dumbest person on your staff.

- Make the team members accountable to each other.

- Your people will never ask for it, but deep down they want discipline. They want direction. They want to be challenged.
They want to belong to something that’s difficult to join.

- If you plan to change the culture where you work, you need to separate behavior from results.

💭Don’t apologize for high expectations. Celebrate them.

[Joe Cleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former high school and college soccer coach, I loved "Let Them Lead". The author, John U. Bacon did a great job introducing himself and the surrounding cast of players and coaches. I would strongly recommend this book to any coach or administrator in high school or college athletics. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is a supervisor or leader in their specific field. It's easy and enjoyable to read, and it is a book you can refer back to or re-read.

There are a couple things I specifically like about this book.

First, the author does a great job detailing the journey of his time as a coach and his team. He admits both his faults and his successes, and what he learned from both. He also talks about his teams' and players' faults and successes, but he does so without casting judgment or belittling the team or athlete. He doesn't talk himself up, or talk his team and athletes down. This is such a key piece and makes both the author and his team very like-able, as you get to see how they learn and grow through their trials and tribulations.

Second, the author does a great job connecting what happens on the ice and in the locker room to what could happen in an office setting, a boardroom, or any other place of business. The author also does a good job making this relatable for individuals who might not be familiar with hockey. This is a key component of the book. Often times, I think leadership books are either too general or too specific. The general leadership book does not help the reader apply the lessons they learn to their specific situations. The specific leadership book only fits a niche, and if you don't fit that niche you won't glean a lot of information from it. The author avoids both of these pitfalls really well.

This was my first foray into this author's work, and as a Big 10 football fan, I am going to be checking out more of his work. I am surprised this book isn't more popular, as it is an easy-read and it is also highly relatable.

[Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author prior to taking over his former high school hockey team was a journalist writing for the Detroit newspaper and several articles for ESPN. He applied for and got the Head Coaching position at his former High School "Huron High"which had suffered through multiple years of losing including the previous season where they did not win a game. The book is about a three year journey that started with changing the culture from day one of the off-season workouts. "Let Them Lead" is a text about implementation of basic human behavior rules that require discipline, direction, be challenged and lead. Bacon tells the reader up front he's not a fire and brimestorm or my way or the highway type of coach. He built a team based on hard work and trust between players and coaches with input from all areas but keeping the final decision as his. Simple things like being on time, putting your teammates and team first both on and off the ice. Each chapter provides bullets for one to think about. Such as; Make your rules clear, few, and connected to your larger mission. The major rule was easy, Work Hard and Support Your Teammates. By doing those two things in the classroom and on the ice everyone watches ot for each other. As with any organization some people will try to push limits. By developing a culture where everyone is working and checking and holding each other accountable the team stay disciplined and focused on both mission and goals. What was the mission to develop great men while winning some hockey games. Present players with high goals and guide them and let them challenge themselves and others to achieve greatness. If they come up short chances are they've surpassed where th4ey came from. In this case they did. Were there ups and downs along the journey, sure. But in each case they grew and learned. Bacon to do this book interviewed some of the former players to give the reader of the success many have achieved. It was a very good read and I highly recommend to coaches, business managers or any one who works with teams.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My review depends on what lens I read this book through.

Overall, I enjoyed John U. Bacon's style of writing and the stories he shared. I was engaged and finished the book relatively quickly. I will recommend this book to my son’s hockey coaches if they have not read it already. As my son gets older, I will also recommend it to him because of the focus on hard work and supporting teammates.

If I rate the book through the lens of enjoyment or if the target audience was coaches in various sports, then my rating would easily be 4-4.5 stars.

However, if I rate this book through the lens of being a higher Manager in the manufacturing industry, then I rate this book 2.0-2.5 stars. There were good nuggets of information and advice on being a leader and developing leaders. Unfortunately, I thought there were some large gaps and other topics not addressed that made the takeaways much more difficult to implement in the day-to-day unless the person reading is the owner of their own business. One of the greatest gaps was not addressing the expectations and goals that come from the C-suite. Additionally, there was no mention of collaboration with other departments where the goals set for a certain group might contradict one another and how to work through those obstacles. In terms of the Business world, it was a little too theoretical and philosophical for me. As a result, I have solicited the feedback from one of the best leaders, not just Executive, but true leader, that I have worked with in my career. He will read this book, and we will discuss to see if I am being too critical and missing some key points.

I will reiterate that I truly enjoy John U. Bacon’s style of writing, and have “The Great Halifax Explosion” in queue; I just don’t think this book is truly applicable to the manufacturing world.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt a little self aggrandizing. It sounds like from as terrible as the squad was any coach with equal heart & brains could have turned the ship around. John is a talented author & magnificent story teller. I'm curious to get the players side of the story over the years to verify if everyone thinks he's a great of a coach as he thinks he is...

What my 👂 heard ⤵️

when everyone is pulling in the same direction the rewards are endless
I work hard for you you work hard for me
if you want work that offers more than money and titles this is it
this is not false modesty
when you're on the floor you can't fall out of bed
in Frank terms going to describe what I need from you
i wisely held back my next thought
I'm not going to be the same
don't apologize for high expectations celebrate them
Navy seals don't whine about the weather they brag about it
my guys had no trouble finding the deep respect embedded in my answer is
you have never impressed me more
hire people who are loyal but strong enough to disagree
when two business partners always agree one is unescessary
borders had a rigid test that they required people to take which they dropped which ultimately LED possibly to the downfall of their company from blowing their lowering their standards
the price of anything is the amount of life you have to exchange for it
I work too hard to throw it all away by indulging my anger
their confidence ran deep
managing is getting paid for home runs someone else hits
the reward for a job well done is to have done it
im no longer scared of anyone

[Carla Bayha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an unlikely person to read Let Them Lead, which is why I can heartily recommend it.This book is about three magical years when the author coached Ann Arbor's Huron High School's terrible hockey team, which had won no games the year before he took over--and was too cool to care. I went to four high schools  as my parents relocated, and the  worst time  I spent was at  Huron. I haven't watched more than a handful of hockey games since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice," and although I was a subscriber to  the local newspaper, I never read their local sports section. And I thought I hated business books with lots of sports metaphors, but I still really enjoyed reading this. I loved Bacon's stories about coaching, I came to love his players, and I teared up a few times. I found inspiration in the leadership advice he quoted, such as "Former Michigan athletic director Don Canham once told me,"Never turn a one-day story into a two-day story." Aaron R., are you listening? And in Bacon's own: "If you go too long without beating your rival," I told the Ann Arbor News, "it becomes more than a game and you feel like you're fighting history." I know a football team that could heed this.

[Craig LeVasseur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see a lot of reviews saying this book is filled with practical advice, but having worked with several coaching staffs all of the way up to the highest levels of competition, I can attest that a player-led leadership system is not common. The typical mentality in athletics is that the coach has to be an authoritative voice and lay down the law. I've seen that style in action, and the players tune it out quickly. A player's voice in the locker room will always be more powerful than a coach's.

Bacon's lessons and strategies with these Huron hockey teams surprised me. I'm not surprised that they worked, I'm more surprised that they aren't used more often. I'm surprised that an author was the one implementing them. How did he learn these strategies? Why did he stop coaching after 4 seasons after so much success? Would it have been sustainable over 8 years? 12 years?

This book, read in the middle of March Madness, certainly has rekindled my interest in coaching and leadership that has been dormant after years of coaching burnout.

[Michael J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best books I read have a certain amount of what I call the "duh factor" - you read them and go, "well of course!" Except that it isn't "well of course" because no one has actually said the thing in a way that the author has said it before. And more importantly, there is typically a gap between the insights in the book and their application in our society because while the concept is easy to understand, the reality of its implementation can be quite hard.

Let Them Lead falls firmly in this category. You will find yourself nodding as you read the pages. The brilliance of the thing is how Bacon manages to balance the things that seem so hard for our society today... respect of the individual vs. respect for work and obligation to the group; desire for fun and enjoyment vs. the toughness of doing hard work.

This is about a coach's experience but it's equally applicable to parenting and work life.

[Jay Gerak · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding book on leadership and leading teams from an extremely versatile author. I stumbled across Bacon's work when I read The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism because the topic interested me. He's also written several books on the University of Michigan Football program which will appeal to fans of the Wolverines, big-time college football and sports in general.

When I had seen that Bacon had written Let Them Lead - I had not known that he has also has a career as a motivational speaker. This book is an excellent entry in the genre of leadership and working with teams. Bacon anchors extremely valid leadership tips on his personal experiences as the head coach of the Ann Arbor Huron River Rats Hockey team 2000-2004. This format- and the underlying story is quite compelling. It is also extremely personal. Unqualifiedly recommended.

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let Them Lead is an inspiring story about selfless leadership. John U. Bacon, one of my favorite authors, seemlessly weaves leadership tips into this masterful tale about coaching a high school hockey team. But I promise that the leadership tactics he uses with teenagers and while coaching a sports team can easily be applied to any scenario. As someone who aspires to one day lead a team directly (there have been and continue to be many indirect opportunities), I found this to be a book that I will forever keep in my arsenal and continually refer to.

I highly recommend this book whether you are looking to hone your managerial skills or just want to read a great story.

PS - I know nothing about hockey and still don't care to learn anything about it, but I still loved this book and really any book written by John!

[Tyler Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading. Main takeaways:
- set extremely high expectations and don’t apologize about it. Be uncompromising about values and principles. His two things were “work hard and support your teammates.” He pushed on these ruthlessly.
- an aspirational vision can be a self fulfilling prophecy. He would tell his team “we are the hardest working team in the country” before they were…but then they became that. Similar to James Clear’s “habits follow identity” idea
- push decisions and ownership down aggressively. He’d sometimes have his players coach games/practice to give them a greater sense of ownership
-separate activities and outcomes. Hold people extremely accountable to activity / behavior and the outcomes will follow. He’d give extreme praise after a loss if the team did the right things. And vice versa

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a ton of books on business and leadership and coaching and they’re usually full of platitudes and cliches. This one is worth reading. Bacon truly cares more about building character in young men than winning. You hear a lot about creating the culture that leads to success but he really talks about how to do it. There is no “I’m a hero, I’m a miracle worker, I have all the answers” here. Just good advice, why it works, a great understanding of human nature. He was fair, he was on the boys side, he wasn’t willing to win at all costs or play a few stars. Would have liked to read more on how to deal with interfering parents but overall this was a very useful lesson for anyone on how to coach and motivate others.

[Topher Goggin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed John Bacon's books related to Michigan sports, and have cousins who attended Ann Arbor Huron, so it was natural to check this book out. As many have noted, this is not really a hockey book - hockey just serves as a backdrop for a book about leadership, teamwork, etc. That being said, while hockey background is definitely not needed, at least being a sports fan will probably make the content more relatable. The advice in the book is not earth shattering, but instead what I'd call "counterintuitive ... until you think about it." There are certainly some great ideas here - some that you already be doing without realizing why, and others that you'll want to consider trying. It's a quick read with memorable themes that will stick with you once you've finished.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America’s Worst High School Hockey Team by John U. Bacon.The book was nominally about high school hockey. In reality the book was about leadership and an inspirational path to a better life. One of the few books that left me in tears at the end. A minor quibble; it dragged about 2/3 of the way through but more than made up for it in the coda. The author, as hockey coach, took the Huron River Rats from last place and laughingstock hockey time to a state champion.

He wrote two books I recently finished, The Gales of November (about the downing of the Edmund Fitzgerald, memorialized in the Gordon Lightfoot Song) and The Halifax Explosion, about a deadly and destructive ship explosion in Halifax Harbor.

[Gary Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read - same style as you'd expect from a John U. Bacon book.

The leadership guidance he gives throughout the book are good principles. I can't say I learned much new, but it did reinforce many best practices I have worked to include in my leadership toolkit throughout my career.

The high school hockey stories reminded me of watching my two sons playing on their high school football and baseball teams and got me thinking about the leadership shown by both the coaches and the team itself during those years.

Overall, a worthwhile read and one that promotes many good leadership practices.

[Jon Bartelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of leadership books from many authors who have names most everyone would recognize. I first met John Bacon at the Impact and Legacy Summit hosted by Humanex Ventures in Kalamazoo Michigan in July 2022, where he spoke in a breakout session. His message, carried throughout his book Let Them Lead, stuck with me and was a source of inspiration to me during my 2022-2023 school year. Yes, I do love hockey and this book has plenty of that, but the leadership stories will resonate with anyone who seeks greater understanding and strategies to implement in their roles within their organizations.

[Maira Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiring yet practical book on leadership! As someone who doesn’t know much about hockey, I wasn’t sure how much I would actually learn about leadership or how entertained I’d be.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good and practical the advice was! It was great to receive the knowledge in an inspiring story of a high school hockey team who worked hard and supported their teammates to.

I love the way the author talks about hockey and seamlessly brings in leadership lessons. I highly recommend this book to anyone stepping into a leadership position or interested in becoming a better leader. I especially recommend this book to anyone who likes team sports.

[Kenny Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book turns out to be two books in one. First, it’s the compelling story about the turnaround of a high-school hockey team that is heartwarming and a pleasure to read. Second, it is practical, hands-on advice for anyone in a leadership role or preparing for one. I greatly enjoyed Let Them Lead for its true story of hard work and grit as well as for the leadership advice, which helped me understand why I am happier as an “individual contributor” rather than a leader. I highly recommend Let Them Lead to anyone, leader, team player, or lone cowboy.

[Madalene · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it's great that Bacon had such an enjoyable experience coaching high school hockey, a lot of the lessons aren't applicable to the modern workplace. The best of them were about being humble, and giving the team the credit. The worst of them were about asking the team to put in extra hours/work hard at the expense of relationships, school and balance of other activities (especially in this post-covid world) and how to coach someone to lose weight in order to play on the ice. Better to skip this one.

[David Jarnot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy read whose story arc reminded me of David Marquet's "Turn the Ship Around". I'm not sure how unexpected the leadership lessons are, but it was great reinforcement of fundamental leadership principles. As a hockey fan I enjoyed the context (and alignment to the 1980 Miracle on Ice), but the lessons are applicable in any environment. More than just a last to first type of story, there was a great emphasis on the importance of culture, belonging, accountability, and vulnerability to make lasting impact by focusing on what truly matters.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bacon is a great writer and the narrative of the hockey team turnaround is compelling. I also played sports at Huron so the local connection likely made it additionally interesting for me. He lays out clear principles for success in that arena and how to change the culture of a team.

His attempts to take that advice and apply it to corporate America fell flat for me. There’s no nuance that things like “zero tolerance for being late” is not a good practice in workplaces where people have many responsibilities beyond that job.

There’s better leadership books, but it’s still a nice read.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with very actionable tips on developing leaders both on your team and within yourself. While the focus is hockey, the framework and tips are incredibly applicable to other sports teams and the author highlights connections and practice of the concepts in corporate settings as well. It’s an easy read that gets you thinking while also feeling as if you’re reading the high school version of Miracle. It’s an easy read and even easier to recommend. I look forward to having a book club with my own team captains using Let Them Lead for our upcoming track season.