How should leaders and coaches insulate teams from such public trials?
That is where a strong leader makes a difference, because he has more than just the ability to create, support and coach the team. The leader does have a strategy and view of what will make the team succeed and is willing to stick to the courage of his or her convictions, even against public attacks. In my book, I give the example of the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that went to the Superbowl (championship game of the US National Football League) this year. When they were choosing their star quarterback, there was tremendous public outcry. In fact, the mayor of Philadelphia, who is now the governor of Pennsylvania, tried to introduce a motion in the city council making it illegal to get this quarterback and to get another player. When you have this kind of public outcry, you have to be sure of your strategy. You better have something that you have thought through, because, otherwise, you will be too rattled. If you have that strategy, you communicate the vision to the team. You tell the