Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Op-ed #21

Do you have to prove yourself?  Again?

Fact:

You bet you do!!!

Yes, you have to prove yourself on a daily basis. Of course, over time you should have built up some good will capital, but every day serves as a new proving ground for you.  This is especially true when a new boss comes in.  Sorry to tell you, you have to prove yourself all over again.

There is no time to rest on your laurels.  We have talked about that before.  Your work place can change on a daily basis.  Get used to it.  And if you can’t get used to it, don’t be surprised when you are not in the same school, same corporation or same team. Any of these actions could occur by your own choice or the choice of management.

This topic came to light for me, once again following the NFL draft.  A new coach told a disgruntled veteran, who some consider one of the best at his position, prior to the draft, that he will be asked to prove himself to the upcoming new coaching staff. This was not what the player wanted to hear.  Yes, this new coach is trying to win games and will ultimately be fired if does not produce, asking a player to demonstrate his abilities to a new management team.  How dare he?  One must also always remember that to win games on the field, management must win the locker room.  Yes, it all goes back to culture.  You have heard that from me before and I will continue to harp on this point.  I choose to harp because, many principals and coaches that I know have forgotten that point, or perhaps never embraced it to begin with.

Suffice to say, the player described above was traded on draft day.  Kudos to the coach and management and good luck to the player.  I have a funny feeling that in several years this player will be disgruntled again.  Of course, I oversimplified this example.  Playing in the NFL has a great deal to do with who is getting paid.  The players that are the highest paid are supposed to be the best and be on the field.

As a former principal and superintendent, I came into work expecting to give my best and prove myself every day to my board of education and to my team of staff members.  And I know that if I did not have this frame of mind, I would be letting everyone down, especially myself.  And yes, if I expected this of myself, I would expect it of my colleagues and teammates.

It was also my job as the “head coach” to point out to my team when I saw them not proving to me their ability or potential every day.  And I know this is where that I perhaps did not do my best.  Then I would complain to myself or others my displeasure with my staff performance. And the more I think about it, it was not necessarily the performance of each individual that frustrated me, it was their lack of commitment or their lack of effort. It was my job to turn this attitude around or work to find this person a different team.  And upon reflection, perhaps I did not give a championship effort and performance on these facets of my leadership.  I implore you not to make my mistake.

That being said, I wanted to build my team with the “grinders.”  Those people that would come in everyday and give their best effort.  It starts with the hiring process.  Of course, you needed the superstar that could fit in.  That is true not only on a team but in a school or business.  You may have to pass on that superstar that may become a disruptor either on the field or in the locker room. When you hit on the right mixture of grinders and stars, and you can win the locker room, I am confident that you will have a chance for that championship.

Be patient.  Have a plan.  Good luck!