“The world will not belong to managers of those who can make the numbers dance. The world will belong to passionate, driven leaders – people who not only have enormous amounts of energy but who can energize those whom they lead.”
Certain people are meant for certain roles and not everyone can be in a role they want. The main reason – they lack the skills or more importantly, the talent, as skills can usually be acquired; talent cannot. For example, I should not be walking into a gym today and asking to teach a “boot camp” class or apply to be a personal trainer (those who know me either chuckled or just said to either to themselves or out loud – “no sh!t”).
At this point in my life, I know what I am good at and also know what I am not. There are also some things I am not sure about but would be willing to try, especially when I see who is currently doing a certain role or task. This is both personally and professionally. What has me thinking about this as usual, are sports. At the beginning of the millennium, the New England Patriots were thought to be the team of the decade and people everywhere starting using the word dynasty. But they have not won a Super Bowl since 2005. We all know that success leads to more opportunities for those who helped create it and the Patriots lost many of their key coaches – specifically offensive coordinator Charlie Weis (took head coaching job at Notre Dame) and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel (took head coach job with Cleveland Browns). Both Crennel and Weis are now unemployed. The place, but more specifically the position, was not the right fit for both of these guys.
Many around New England are asking why one or both of them do not come back to the Patriots and work for Bill Belichick again. Good question. Head coaching is almost all about leadership and not so much about X’s and O’s. It is about organizing, motivating and delegating. Weis and Crennel were/are great coordinators but they do not have the talent to be a head coach right now, especially in the NFL. Personally, I think Weis and Crennel should seriously consider re-joining Belichick and the Patriots but only those two know if their egos could handle it (and if Belichick wants them back but a good leader knows who can help them be successful). I do not mean that they are arrogant but it is tough for anyone to get a new promotion, fail and then go back to a lesser role. Could I do it? Depends on the role and who I would be reporting too and if I did not think I could still be successful in the role I just failed at. But I would be arrogant and selfish not to weigh all the options.
Success in and out of the office, on the ball fields and in the community boils down to a few simple things. First – are people in the right role that matches their talent and personality. Second – leadership at all levels as people responsible for guiding others must have the talent as well as integrity and care more about others than themselves. Finally, you need to have some courage and confidence and not as much as one might think but you have to have some of both. Jack Welch takes us into the weekend with our opening quote.
Have a great and safe weekend with family and friends as New England is bracing for snow after a few days in the 50’s and 60’s.
