He is not dogmatic in that he is not afraid to make changes or take chances when his own methods have not achieved his goals. Witness the subtle and not so subtle changes in approach between his '86 and '91 Giants teams, the New England Patriots and his current crop of Jets. All of these skills are necessary in today's sports or learning environment. Ask any coach, parent or teacher. It also appears that Parcells seeks to understand or has an intuitive sense of how each player needs to be treated in order for that player to maximally achieve.
Feeling understood by another individual is one of the most effective ways of creating change.
Parcells' ability to relate has not only helped him win on the field, but has also brought him loyalty and admiration from former players and coaches such as Harry Carson, Phil Simms, Phil McConkey and Carl Banks, to name a few. Parcells makes it clear that players are going to conform to his system and demands, and if they do not, they won'' be playing for him. The power of his message should not be underestimated as people who are too secure in their jobs are not always the most productive. We constantly hear business owners and corporation heads complain about union-run shops and various work regulations that inhibit their ability to obtain and change personnel. A perfect example of the tail wagging the dog.