ESPN's Lou Holtz thinks he knows a thing or two about leadership. He has parlayed his coaching career into a lucrative career writing books and giving motivational speeches. Last night on ESPN Holtz reportedly provided an interesting window into his view of what makes a good leader. According to Holtz, Michigan football coach Rich Rod needs to be a better leader. By example, Holtz invoked Nazi "leader" Adolf Hilter. "Ya know, Hitler was a great leader too." No I did not know that. I thought Hitler used dumbed-down propaganda to get his people to invade, torture, kill millions and bankrupt his country. I say pure evil. You, Holtz, say great leader. Holtz apologized later in the broadcast.
Holtz apparently longs for simpler times, when coaches and leaders could rule with an iron-fist or, in Hitler's case, human ovens.
Holtz once said, "When I first started coaching, athletes talked about accountability and responsibility. Now they talk about rights and entitlement."
Apparently, rights and entitlement are bad things, especially to coaches and leaders who do better when leadership goes unquestioned.
Hitler was the absolute antithesis of a good leader. He did have one talent: Hitler was a brilliant propagandist who used his oratory skills to spark action.
Hitler on "leadership"...
"All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach."
"Hate is more lasting than dislike."
"How fortunate for leaders that men do not think."
"It is not truth that matters, but victory."
Those were Hitler's marching orders.
