I realize I am behind on writing this and that the excitement or frustration has somewhat subsided, but I needed time to think on this idea. I have lived in Colts territory for over two decades so to even write the title feels like betrayal. You may be looking at it and saying “you spelled it wrong.”
Actually, I didn’t. Greatest Leader of All Time. Notice I am not saying greatest ever, but specifically as a quarterback. I’m not discussing whether or not this is true, but challenging us to consider three leadership lessons we can glean from this experienced professional quarterback.
Mindset
If you know anything about football you recognize any good quarterback is a leader, but not all last long. Why? Their mental approach. I found an article discussing Brady’s early years at the University of Michigan (I think I just threw up in my mouth since I’m an Ohio State fan 😊).
I digress. In his early years he was seventh on the depth chart. That means there were six people in front of him before he would get a chance to start. This also meant is he got only 2 out of 50 reps in practice.1
This could be crushing for many quarterbacks, but he allowed the question “how can I prove myself” lead to an investment in himself. He spent time with a psychologist to help his mindset. That time led him to shift his focus from the number of reps to making every rep the best you can.
Stop focusing on the number of reps and start focusing on making every rep the best you can.
What would happen if as leaders we shifted our focus from creating more opportunities and worrying about the “next thing?” Instead, focus on giving the best we can to what is in front of us. That could shift us from an anxious mindset focused on what we can’t control to a confident mindset focused on what is within our control.
Talented Teammates
Wise leaders understand what leadership expert John Maxwell states in his book The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork as the law of significance:
“One is too small a number to achieve greatness.”
In an interview leading up to Super Bowl LV, after answering a few questions, Brady requested other teammates be brought up for interviews. He understood he may get the attention and be viewed as the team leader, but the reality was he had many talented teammates around him who would make success possible.
If he did not have talented receivers, running backs, defensive players, offensive lineman, and an experienced coaching staff to lead the team they would be limited in what they could accomplish. Some leaders say it is lonely at the top. Maybe because some of the ultimate decisions fall on the leader, but great leaders surround themselves with a talented and capable team so they can together carry the burden and fulfill the vision.
Credibility
Up until this most recent Super Bowl victory I was reluctant to consider the G.O.A.T. idea for Tom Brady because I thought it may just have been the coach and players in New England. The true test of a leader is putting him or her in a new environment to see if they get similar results. Brady did that.
Coming in though I think it may have been considerably easier than when he came to New England because of this last idea. Credibility.
Back in June Bruce Arians highlighted this credibility in an article by observing when Brady talks, his teammates listen.3 He didn’t say exactly why, but surely five Super Bowl rings has something to do with it. Possibly Brady’s credibility created greater commitment from his team and was a key to their success this past season. As Kouzes and Posner state in their book The Truth About Leadership:
“Only credible leaders earn commitment, and only commitment builds and regenerates great organizations”
As leaders we must be credible. We may not walk in the door with Tom Brady credibility, but the best way to build it is by matching our actions with our words. That will build credibility, trust, and ultimately influence.
What about you? How are you doing in these areas as a leader? Do you need to strengthen the team around you? Maybe you have credibility gaps that need to be filled or possibly you need to invest in getting someone to help you with mindset as Brady did in college. Need help with your team or your self-leadership? Let’s talk to discover ways I may be able to come alongside you. In the meantime, lead well.
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