One thing about Ryan Poles that has become evident during his run as Chicago Bears GM is he’s a big believer in building an organization from within. That isn’t limited to the players, either. During an interview with Hoge & Jahns, he explained it is his goal to develop the best scouting department in the world. He wants the Bears to be a hotbed of future NFL general managers. That hasn’t been the case for a long time. To that end, Poles understands he must do what he can to teach his scouts about things beyond simple player evaluation.
It is also about leadership. Teams never get anywhere without good leaders, not just at the top but at all levels. To help further his education on this, Poles found a book written by former United States Admiral William H. McRaven called “The Wisdom of the Bullfrog.” It discusses the many challenges a leader can face, such as crisis situations, management debates, organizational transitions, and ethical dilemmas. McRaven is a former Navy SEAL who oversaw the infamous SEAL Team Six during their now legendary raid to kill Osama Bin Laden.
Poles was so taken with the book that he had all of his scouts read it during the summer. That wasn’t it, though. McRaven himself reached out to the Bears, and they had a Zoom meeting where everybody could ask the admiral questions.
McRaven may not be a sports guy, but leadership is leadership. Learning how to manage people and get the best out of them is necessary in sports, business, and war. The man served in the military for 37 years, including both Gulf Wars and Afghanistan. He rubbed shoulders with some of America’s most distinguished leaders like Barrack Obama, George W. Bush, Norma Schwarzkopf, and Colin Powell. Anybody with common sense would jump at the chance to pick that kind of brain.
Credit to Ryan Poles for seizing the opportunity. His scouting staff no doubt benefitted from the intellect and experience McRaven offered. The benefits of such a meeting won’t be felt immediately. In the long run, it could serve the Bears well in several facets. The better their scouts become, the stronger the team will be on the field.
