January 8th, 2024 was the first Monday after the final week of the regular NFL season. Out of 32 teams, only 14 teams make the playoffs, that means on Monday the 8th, 18 teams were having conversations about whose fault the season results should fall on.
Thus far 25% of the teams have parted ways with the head coach. If the team fails blame the coach. This direction is simple, efficient but is it effective?
There is something to be said about a “flesh viewpoint”, is this the right step to start new?
It seems that an owner would assess the talent first. Is it matching up with other teams? I know, you are saying, a “poor craftsman blames their tools” but we really aren’t talking about tools. We are talking about talent and a leader’s job is to assess if the talent is still on par. Is the right attitude present to win? If the talent is right, then does the game plan still work? Is the approach working or does it need to be adjusted?
As a leader, I always felt it was my prime responsibility to mentor and make sure that my team had all it needs to be successful and that the work plan is solid and still effective. I have learned that you hire, mentor, promote the team that fits the work plan and has the tools to succeed.
To be effective as a leader I often controlled the information, the schedule, and I provided the team with the tools to be great. The only thing I could assess the team on is if they had the right attitude.
President Eisenhower, had a few thoughts on leaders, he said “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” That being a leader is about motivating a team. He thought that “Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.”
See a theme?
After all he was primarily asking solders to storm a beach or go into war. The last thing that anyone would want to do willingly as if it was their idea. As a design leader I was asking talent to show up with the right attitude, to thrive and design great spaces. Create an environment that design thrives and drives the project. By doing this we will find that our talent is creatively challenged, and our clients were happy.
Destination Architect 