I can't help but feel sorry for the once proud Indianapolis Colts. For the past 11 years, the Colts have made the playoffs in 10 of those years, winning the Super Bowl after the 2006 season. They went again in 2010 but lost a great game to New Orleans. This year, they're win less in eight games. This is a team that is built around one man, Peyton Manning, their quarterback. He has not played one down this year and may not play again. He joined the Colts in 1998 and has set club and NFL records for his passing proficiency. In watching this team, I'm not sure they'll win a game this year. Very sad but very true.
There are many examples in sports where one player can make a difference. Look at David Freese with the World Champion Cardinals. In game 6 last week, he hit a game tying home run in the 9th and won it with a walk-off homer in the 11th. There are thousands of examples where the presence of one player changes the balance of a game or a season. This year, Peyton Manning's absence brings this into focus.
As leaders, think about your team. Though all of us can be replaced-can we be as efficient, productive and effective without your key players? What are you doing to keep them interested and engaged? Most of the time it's not throwing more money, but showing your appreciation. We have to understand that there are game changers in our organization. They should be models for others to improve and excel. This is where the Colts struggle. There is no leadership, there is no direction and the rest of the players aren't able to step up. Don't let this happen in you.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Irrational Exuberance
It was a horrible sports weekend in Philadelphia bookended by the Phillies collapse and Eagles loss. There are two blogs related to those topics swirling in my head. Stay tuned.
Irrational exuberance drives me crazy. As I was channel surfing Saturday night I came across the Ohio State-Nebraska football game. I think I picked up the game in the 4th quarter with the Buckeyes ahead 27-13. Did I say how much I dislike the Buckeyes? Nebraska is driving down the field, picking up rushing yardage at will. On one particular first down play, the Nebraska running backing goes for a nine yard gain. He is tackled hard by Christian Bryant, a defensive back. Mr. Bryant gets up and goes crazy over the hit he just made. He's pounding his chest and high-fiving anyone within reach. He was pretty full of himself. Perhaps he forgot that the back just ran for nine yards on a first and ten and that his defense was being leveled by a superior Nebraska line. No, he didn't care. He was the man!
Another example of over exuberance, perhaps not irrational, is Nyjer Morgan. He is an outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers who has an alter ego named Tony Plush. In my opinion, he is one of the most annoying players in baseball. Unfortunately for all of us who are not Brewers fans, he got the game winning, series winning hit on Friday night. Of course he screamed expletives into the microphone in the post game celebration on the field. He is T-Plush!
Excitement and exuberance are a part of life. No one wants to work with downtrodden people. The workplace and the playing fields need for personalities to come out and shine. But it needs to be done in a reasonable manner appropriate for the setting and situation. Christian Bryant-wrong situation. Nyjer Morgan, er T-Plush, inappropriate language. There is no "I" in team, yet so many players and workers make it about themselves. Maybe that's the economic times we live in, but enough already. I want a strong, dedicated individual working with me that has fun but knows when to focus. As leaders, we need to find a way to harness the energy strong personalities have into something that will improve the results of the team and increase their value to the organization. Good judgement and acting appropriately shouldn't be the exception-it should be the rule.
Irrational exuberance drives me crazy. As I was channel surfing Saturday night I came across the Ohio State-Nebraska football game. I think I picked up the game in the 4th quarter with the Buckeyes ahead 27-13. Did I say how much I dislike the Buckeyes? Nebraska is driving down the field, picking up rushing yardage at will. On one particular first down play, the Nebraska running backing goes for a nine yard gain. He is tackled hard by Christian Bryant, a defensive back. Mr. Bryant gets up and goes crazy over the hit he just made. He's pounding his chest and high-fiving anyone within reach. He was pretty full of himself. Perhaps he forgot that the back just ran for nine yards on a first and ten and that his defense was being leveled by a superior Nebraska line. No, he didn't care. He was the man!
Another example of over exuberance, perhaps not irrational, is Nyjer Morgan. He is an outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers who has an alter ego named Tony Plush. In my opinion, he is one of the most annoying players in baseball. Unfortunately for all of us who are not Brewers fans, he got the game winning, series winning hit on Friday night. Of course he screamed expletives into the microphone in the post game celebration on the field. He is T-Plush!
Excitement and exuberance are a part of life. No one wants to work with downtrodden people. The workplace and the playing fields need for personalities to come out and shine. But it needs to be done in a reasonable manner appropriate for the setting and situation. Christian Bryant-wrong situation. Nyjer Morgan, er T-Plush, inappropriate language. There is no "I" in team, yet so many players and workers make it about themselves. Maybe that's the economic times we live in, but enough already. I want a strong, dedicated individual working with me that has fun but knows when to focus. As leaders, we need to find a way to harness the energy strong personalities have into something that will improve the results of the team and increase their value to the organization. Good judgement and acting appropriately shouldn't be the exception-it should be the rule.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Doing Your Job
Last night, a journeyman outfielder did his job for the Phillies. With two on in the top of the 7th, Ben Francisco hit a three run home run. Though it got close, it was all the Phils needed to win the game and take a 2-1 series lead. This is a guy the team had hopes wold take Jayson Werth's place in right field. It didn't turn out that way. He had some good at bats throughout the season, but will be used in a pinch hitter's role in the post season. By doing his job, it takes the pressure off the rest of the team to do more. The team's star, Ryan Howard went 0-4, but has to feel better that his teammate has his back. It takes a team to win as is proven every night this week in the playoffs.
What if everyone did their job in your organization? What if the CEO didn't have to do more because her CFO wasn't up to the job? What if the payroll clerk had to do his job only and not the work of others? It is important that everyone know their role and perform to the best of their abilities. It's called doing your job. If you don't know what your role is-ask. If you don't like it-leave. Life is too short. As leaders, your job is to define, give feedback and motivate your team to perform when called on and to give a consistently good performance.
Most of us won't have to do our jobs in front of millions of people. We need to perform for those we love and respect. As leaders, we need to set the tone and give encouragement so everyone can do their job. We can all learn from Ben Francisco.
What if everyone did their job in your organization? What if the CEO didn't have to do more because her CFO wasn't up to the job? What if the payroll clerk had to do his job only and not the work of others? It is important that everyone know their role and perform to the best of their abilities. It's called doing your job. If you don't know what your role is-ask. If you don't like it-leave. Life is too short. As leaders, your job is to define, give feedback and motivate your team to perform when called on and to give a consistently good performance.
Most of us won't have to do our jobs in front of millions of people. We need to perform for those we love and respect. As leaders, we need to set the tone and give encouragement so everyone can do their job. We can all learn from Ben Francisco.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
A Night to Remember
Have you ever watched something and think something special was happening. Last night was it for me. I'm a huge baseball fan and we are in the midst of the best time of the year. For the first time in years, the season is ending during the week in an attempt to finish playing in October. Here's the scene going into last night's games: Tampa Bay and Boston were tied for the Wild Card in the American League and Atlanta and St. Louis were tied in the National League. If they were still tied, they would play a one game playoff today. Around midnight eastern time, the Phillies and the Braves were in extra innings; Boston and Baltimore resumed play after a rain delay; and Tampa Bay and the Yankees were in an extra inning battle. More on the Tampa Bay game later.
As a Phillies fan, I was watching the game. The Phillies tied the game in the 9th. Atlanta knew they had to win in order to force a playoff since St. Louis beat the Astros. Back and forth it went until the top of the 13th when the Phillies scored on a bloop single. Atlanta's season ended in the bottom of the inning with a double play. I quickly moved to the Red Sox game where Boston had a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. Their closer gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to the Orioles. The Red Sox ran to the television to watch the Rays win in the bottom of the 12th on a walk off home run by Evan Longoria. The Rays were losing 7-0 going into the 8th inning. They scored six runs in the 8th and scored in the ninth on a two out home run by Dan Johnson. The best game of the night. Tampa Bay and St. Louis go to the playoffs.
What's the connection to leadership? In my mind, the teams with the best leaders won their games. The Phillies have great leadership on the field and an underrated manager in Charlie Manuel. By winning, he became the win leader in Phillies managerial history. The Red Sox appeared to be lacking leadership as they saw their 9 game lead evaporate. The same for the Braves-they had an 8.5 game lead in September. The Braves had a rookie manager and an aging Chipper Jones-not enough. Certainly not compared to Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols. Leadership matters-especially when the going gets tough. It promises to be a great post season. May the best leader win.
As a Phillies fan, I was watching the game. The Phillies tied the game in the 9th. Atlanta knew they had to win in order to force a playoff since St. Louis beat the Astros. Back and forth it went until the top of the 13th when the Phillies scored on a bloop single. Atlanta's season ended in the bottom of the inning with a double play. I quickly moved to the Red Sox game where Boston had a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. Their closer gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to the Orioles. The Red Sox ran to the television to watch the Rays win in the bottom of the 12th on a walk off home run by Evan Longoria. The Rays were losing 7-0 going into the 8th inning. They scored six runs in the 8th and scored in the ninth on a two out home run by Dan Johnson. The best game of the night. Tampa Bay and St. Louis go to the playoffs.
What's the connection to leadership? In my mind, the teams with the best leaders won their games. The Phillies have great leadership on the field and an underrated manager in Charlie Manuel. By winning, he became the win leader in Phillies managerial history. The Red Sox appeared to be lacking leadership as they saw their 9 game lead evaporate. The same for the Braves-they had an 8.5 game lead in September. The Braves had a rookie manager and an aging Chipper Jones-not enough. Certainly not compared to Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols. Leadership matters-especially when the going gets tough. It promises to be a great post season. May the best leader win.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
One Play Can Make a Difference
Each week, hundreds of games are played at the professional level. It is uncanny how many times a game, or even a season can turn on one play. Last Saturday, Penn State had stopped the Alabama Crimson Tide on third down. Alabama had a fake punt and made the first down by an inch. The game was never the same. Alabama won handily.
Take the Pittsburgh Pirates this year. They were the "darling" of the majors and were actually in first place for a few days in July. On July 25th, they came into Atlanta for a four game series. The third game was great. It went 19 innings and ended on a very controversial "safe" call at home plate by the Braves. Though they split the series, the Bucs weren't the same and have gone 13-31 since that game. They will once again finish the season with a losing record.
Though we may not have a "play" as leaders-we have moments where we can make a difference. It may be losing your composure, saying the wrong thing, showing compassion, making a decision. I have found in my career that making decisions on limited or one-sided information quickly often comes back to haunt me. This is not about intuition (another blog down the line) but about making a difference based on your leadership. Organizations are defined by their leaders-make your plays count.
Take the Pittsburgh Pirates this year. They were the "darling" of the majors and were actually in first place for a few days in July. On July 25th, they came into Atlanta for a four game series. The third game was great. It went 19 innings and ended on a very controversial "safe" call at home plate by the Braves. Though they split the series, the Bucs weren't the same and have gone 13-31 since that game. They will once again finish the season with a losing record.
Though we may not have a "play" as leaders-we have moments where we can make a difference. It may be losing your composure, saying the wrong thing, showing compassion, making a decision. I have found in my career that making decisions on limited or one-sided information quickly often comes back to haunt me. This is not about intuition (another blog down the line) but about making a difference based on your leadership. Organizations are defined by their leaders-make your plays count.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Healing and Sports
It has been an emotional weekend paying tribute to those who died on September 11th. It seems that the nation has taken a respite from the bickering and remembered ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The images are powerful, the words strong, and the emotions real.
I don't believe anything happens by chance. Therefore, it's not a surprise that the professional football season opened on the 10th anniversary. For me, the return of sports that fall was the first sign of normalcy after a week of shock. The athletes, especially in New York, had to deal with their own emotions and concern for their safety and help the nation begin the healing process. Yankee and Mets players visited the armories, packed care packages, and made themselves available. It was a time where we all rooted for any New York team. The Yankees came close to winning the World Series. Their fields were pastures of patriotism and gave all of us a venue to cheer the first responders showcased at many games. Most important, it provided the perfect backdrop for the flag which we all flew with pride.
This weekend, seeing President Bush reminds me of his taking the field in New York at game 3 of the World Series and throwing a strike from the pitching rubber. His confidence was shared by all who watched on that day. There are so many stories from the sports world that fall. Those memories have come back this weekend.
It's not often that you can make a difference to a nation. Sports did. It's a reminder to all of us that we can make a difference in our own worlds. Leaders make their reputations during crisis. We don't have time to think-but we do what we've been trained to do. That's why training is key and "perfect practice makes perfect." Vice President Biden said in his remarks at Shanksville on Saturday that all of us have courage that one day will be summoned. Are you ready for your day?
I don't believe anything happens by chance. Therefore, it's not a surprise that the professional football season opened on the 10th anniversary. For me, the return of sports that fall was the first sign of normalcy after a week of shock. The athletes, especially in New York, had to deal with their own emotions and concern for their safety and help the nation begin the healing process. Yankee and Mets players visited the armories, packed care packages, and made themselves available. It was a time where we all rooted for any New York team. The Yankees came close to winning the World Series. Their fields were pastures of patriotism and gave all of us a venue to cheer the first responders showcased at many games. Most important, it provided the perfect backdrop for the flag which we all flew with pride.
This weekend, seeing President Bush reminds me of his taking the field in New York at game 3 of the World Series and throwing a strike from the pitching rubber. His confidence was shared by all who watched on that day. There are so many stories from the sports world that fall. Those memories have come back this weekend.
It's not often that you can make a difference to a nation. Sports did. It's a reminder to all of us that we can make a difference in our own worlds. Leaders make their reputations during crisis. We don't have time to think-but we do what we've been trained to do. That's why training is key and "perfect practice makes perfect." Vice President Biden said in his remarks at Shanksville on Saturday that all of us have courage that one day will be summoned. Are you ready for your day?
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Making a Statement
There comes a time in a season where a team needs to lay down the gauntlet and show the other teams whose in charge. This week, the Phillies did just that. Atlanta game into town on Monday looking to cut the Phillies lead in the National League East. No such luck for the Braves. In fact, the Phillies sent them sprawling after three straight wins and extending their lead to 10.5 games. The Phillies are the best team in baseball and they showed the Braves why they're the best.
While these were very enjoyable games to watch as a Phillies fan-it was expected. If Atlanta had come in and swept the Phillies, there would be grinding and gnashing of teeth and the Phillies Nation would be shaking. The Phillies, with confidence and not arrogance, took it to the Braves and won in a blowout, an easy win, and a ninth-inning walk off.
There are times that leaders have to make a statement. This is not through yelling and screaming, but through follow-up, accountability and consistency. Leadership is not arrogance, it is confidence. Leadership is not reactive, but proactive. Leadership does not rage, but it is enthusiastic. Every day we have an opportunity to make a statement. Will is be positive or negative? It's your choice.
While these were very enjoyable games to watch as a Phillies fan-it was expected. If Atlanta had come in and swept the Phillies, there would be grinding and gnashing of teeth and the Phillies Nation would be shaking. The Phillies, with confidence and not arrogance, took it to the Braves and won in a blowout, an easy win, and a ninth-inning walk off.
There are times that leaders have to make a statement. This is not through yelling and screaming, but through follow-up, accountability and consistency. Leadership is not arrogance, it is confidence. Leadership is not reactive, but proactive. Leadership does not rage, but it is enthusiastic. Every day we have an opportunity to make a statement. Will is be positive or negative? It's your choice.
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