Righting the Good Ship Argos

I’ve had the good fortune to spend the last couple of days at my firm’s HQ. I am lucky to work for a successful Fortune 500 firm, whose success is based on it’s culture and values. It isn’t a coincidence that the firm has had three individual CEOs in its 58 years of existence. Our new CEO was pursued for over a decade and when he finally accepted the position he was transitioned into the CEO over a 5 year period of time.

It struck me this week that the Argos longest standing current management positions are the GM and head coach. Jim and and Marc have a tenure 19 months each. The current part-time president has less than a year in his position.

If you want to lay blame to the absence of local interest in the Argos lay it at the feet of the team’s culture and values. The constantly revolving HQ doors have zero room for transition. This is interesting since the salaries continue for those previously employed in management. Not one individual in the last decade in an important role with the team has ever been asked for any transitional input. Strange because they’re still on the payroll and still cashing cheques from the team.

At this point in the season, fans are already calling for people to pay the price for a four win season. We really don’t need to look too far for success in the CFL. The Calgary Stampeders have a decade of success under John Hufnagel with the support of owners that also own the Calgary Flames.

I would love to see the next full-time Argos president strategically “pulled together” the kind of culture and values that breed success. Don’t give me someone who house cleans everyone immediately and then proceeds with making all the same mistakes of their predecessors.

John Hufnagel has never lost more than 7 games in a season since becoming Calgary's GM - that's why there's continuity.

The constant turnover surely doesn't help. I think the Argos thought they were getting something that will be long lasting with management and coaching in Popp and Trestman to create a sustainable winning culture. Sadly, this season shows that it's easier said than done.

As I've said several times - and it does seem obvious, but worth noting - the Calgary organization has been a perennial template for the Winning Formula.

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Originally Posted by 1971GreyCup

I’ve had the good fortune to spend the last couple of days at my firm’s HQ. I am lucky to work for a successful Fortune 500 firm, whose success is based on it’s culture and values. It isn’t a coincidence that the firm has had three individual CEOs in its 58 years of existence. Our new CEO was pursued for over a decade and when he finally accepted the position he was transitioned into the CEO over a 5 year period of time.

It struck me this week that the Argos longest standing current management positions are the GM and head coach. Jim and and Marc have a tenure 19 months each. The current part-time president has less than a year in his position.

If you want to lay blame to the absence of local interest in the Argos lay it at the feet of the team’s culture and values. The constantly revolving HQ doors have zero room for transition. This is interesting since the salaries continue for those previously employed in management. Not one individual in the last decade in an important role with the team has ever been asked for any transitional input. Strange because they’re still on the payroll and still cashing cheques from the team.

At this point in the season, fans are already calling for people to pay the price for a four win season. We really don’t need to look too far for success in the CFL. The Calgary Stampeders have a decade of success under John Hufnagel with the support of owners that also own the Calgary Flames.

I would love to see the next full-time Argos president strategically “pulled together” the kind of culture and values that breed success. Don’t give me someone who house cleans everyone immediately and then proceeds with making all the same mistakes of their predecessors.

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Isn't there a contradiction between touting the virtues of an org with extremely low turnover in senior mgmt and calling for "the next fulltime Argos president"? Should we throw the current one away after less than a year?

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Originally Posted by paulwoods13

Isn't there a contradiction between touting the virtues of an org with extremely low turnover in senior mgmt and calling for "the next fulltime Argos president"? Should we throw the current one away after less than a year?

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No we shouldn't. Let's just acknowledge we have had a truly sh**y year. However, we probably had false expectations or hope after having won the Grey Cup (but after finishing the season 9 - 9). That was a magical run, but in professional sports, magic is a hard thing to replicate.

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Originally Posted by paulwoods13

Isn't there a contradiction between touting the virtues of an org with extremely low turnover in senior mgmt and calling for "the next fulltime Argos president"? Should we throw the current one away after less than a year?

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I don’t see a contradiction at all. Without a commitment to the top of an organization and it’s culture, it doesn’t matter who the GM and coaches are. We can bring new saviours in every other year and it won’t work. Hasn’t the last 25 years taught us anything?

It took 50 years for the latest owners to fully commit to a winning culture. Now after several years, the organization is no longer a joke. The future looks very promising.

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Originally Posted by 1971GreyCup

I don’t see a contradiction at all. Without a commitment to the top of an organization and it’s culture, it doesn’t matter who the GM and coaches are. We can bring new saviours in every other year and it won’t work. Hasn’t the last 25 years taught us anything?

It took 50 years for the latest owners to fully commit to a winning culture. Now after several years, the organization is no longer a joke. The future looks very promising.

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I must be thick but I am still confused. Do you want a new president, or not? If you do, I can't understand how you square that with bringing in new saviours every year won't work.

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Originally Posted by paulwoods13

I must be thick but I am still confused. Do you want a new president, or not? If you do, I can't understand how you square that with bringing in new saviours every year won't work.

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Of course I want a full time president. No corporate structure that I’m aware of succeeded with part time CEOs. Maybe Bill Manning has a president appointed for TFC and sets the course for the Argos, or steps aside. This isn’t rocket science folks.