A couple of months ago we all gathered around our televisions to watch one of the most highly anticipated games of the NFL season, Super Bowl XLI. But what is it about this event that attracts so many people to tune in. Sports has become an entertainment realm of America’s past time and has evolved into an atmosphere of friendly competition not only for the teams and players involved but the fans as well. Being a part of the sports industry these individuals are constantly under watch, and being evaluated on their potential. For this reason the opportunity and need for a leader to emerge within the rankings is ever so important. For players and coaches this is just one of the few times in which all eyes point to who can effectively lead there team to victory. This past February proved to be no different as everyone talked about the leadership capabilities of both head coaches, Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy. Remarkable for many reasons, the two were making history as the first African American Head Coaches to have the opportunity to win the Super Bowl.
In a previous post about a month ago I wrote about why I believe Tony Dungy represented the necessary characteristics of an outstanding leader on and off the football field, and mentioned the fact that Dungy has surpassed the expectations of many being an African American head coach, but also by his relentless effort and community involvement. Often recognized for his efforts to encourage his players and coaching staff both on and off the field, his quiet and humble demeanor, qualify him for such recognition. He truly understands the meaning of a team effort and has surpassed the goals of many in his eleven years as an NFL Coach for both Tampa Bay and Indianapolis alike. Like many before him he has expounded his leadership role and resume with the honor of being the first African American Coach to win the Super Bowl, but not only did he use this as an opportunity to expand his football greatness but also to promote his personal and spiritual mission as well. Amongst all the praise and support of winning Super Bowl XLI, there was a small group of people who felt that Dungy used the big game as a platform to display his Christian values.
“I did," Dungy said matter-of-factly. "The Super Bowl has been a big media outlet for the last 20 years and people are always asking players and coaches about things outside of the game. I knew if I ever got there, that would be a platform for me to minister and share my faith. I know it's not politically correct, (but) it's something that's important to me and I don't apologize for it." He may not be the most popular NFL coach, but Dungy has a remarkable spirit to win and persevere in the hardest of times, and the ability to inspire all of those around him. Having to deal with the suicide of his son in December 2005, Dungy was able to take everything in stride and still managed to complete a successful season. He's a man who's spiritual, reflective and even funny. Recognized as the man who changed the face of coaching, with his Christian values, quiet demeanor, and nice guy image. Dungy is a remarkable inspiration and leads by example. Being calm, cool and collected are all traits that Dungy says he tried really hard to maintain over the years, and credits his father as a source of inspiration. "My dad was that way and he always emphasized it's important to be under control, think about the next step in the process, and not over react to what's already happened, but instead try to plan ahead." For these reasons Dungy exemplifies the spirit of an exceptional leader and has a spirit of motivation that will even remind you of your own father.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Branding Excellence: Brian Cashman
Everybody wants to be the big man in charge and in sports it no different, except for one problem, setting yourself apart and truly making everybody happy becomes a harder task everyday with the desire to be the best team in the league, year after year. Adding on to this, lets talk about the rising aspect of Fantasy Leagues that have developed in recent years, and makes “you” in charge of everything, from player contracts, and personnel to the head coach. But what has this done to the role of general managers and coaches in the real sports? It’s often debated who has more control in the professional ranks, the owner, the general manger, or the head coach, but the question is who doesn’t have the power? But what does this have to do with identifying a level 5 leader? Because of the tremendous growth of such fantasy leagues as fantasy football, the general public becomes your competition, and your competence as a leader is no longer questioned by those on the team, but those outside as well, and sometimes fans can be your worst enemy and critic in the sports world. So with this in mind, my vote would nominate the team general manager as the hardest working leader in the professional ranks, but with thousands of professional teams in a variety of sports how can you find the best of the best, that one person that could qualify as a level 5 extraordinaire?
Jim Collins describes level 5 leadership as a study in duality: modest and willful, shy and fearless, and further states, “Level 5 leaders build enduring greatness through a paradoxical combination of personal humility and professional will.” And finding this combination can sometimes be a hard task, but for the Yankee’s, this prayer was answered when Brian Cashman became the general Manager in 1998. Although he may not be the most liked executive in the Yankee’s camp, his presence has made a tremendous impact in the franchises recent years and success, with five World Series appearances in his eight years as GM. Being a level 5 leader is not about how much success you can bring to the business, but how effective you are in creating vision, strategy and team dynamics. Level 5 leaders are more than name they became a brand, behind a name, and Cashman has done just that, with his sometimes perceived arrogance, he has managed to brand the Yankee franchise as the best major league baseball team, and has arose to the challenges of facing an angry owner, he has managed to build the team from the inside out, realizing that without a committed executive office, it doesn’t matter what player you have on your team.
“As commanding leaders go, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, who demanded and received more autonomy from Steinbrenner two years ago, has the look of a student crossing guard with an orange patrol belt and a tinfoil badge,” according to a recent New York Times article. Although many may dismiss his demeanor as humble and meek not being able to survive the pressures of George Steinbrenner’s franchise ownership he proven everyone wrong, being the longest lasing Yankee GM, and stone cold fighter. Cashman isn’t afraid to step up and bat, and challenge the norms within the industry. No longer are the players Cashman doesn't want foisted on him, as Raul Mondesi and Kenny Lofton once were. "For the last two years I've been able to set course on how we should proceed," Cashman said by phone from Tampa. He isn’t afraid of challenge and does whatever is necessary to make the team a successes in his eyes; even it means possible losing a valuable asset. Seeking the respect of a contract extension with one year remaining on his contract, Mariano Rivera began spring training by challenging Cashman on his quaint egalitarian notion of fairness. “We treat everyone the same,” Cashman said in an attempt to break norm of the Yankees' tradition of overpaying for sentimental value, and just the same Rivera responded that he was not everyone and threatened to exit next year if his contract wish was ignored. However it is his perseverance and will that set him apart from most general managers; he understands the business will stop at no end to achieve in the business. USA Today states, “Cashman is philosophical about the pressures and likens the demands of the job to life in New York. “Nothing less than top shelf, that's what everybody, wants. That's the fabric of being in this city," he says, "You've got to be tough to get through it." So whether he’s classified as an Enigma or one as having one of the worst jobs in sports, Brian Cashman will stop at nothing to build his brand name, the New York Yankees.
Sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tenworstjobs-7-yankeesgm.htm
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/sports/features/9611/
Roberts, Selena. Cashman Is the Answer To Multiple Enigmas. New York Times [New York, N.Y.] 18 Feb. 2007, Late Edition (East Coast): 1
Jim Collins describes level 5 leadership as a study in duality: modest and willful, shy and fearless, and further states, “Level 5 leaders build enduring greatness through a paradoxical combination of personal humility and professional will.” And finding this combination can sometimes be a hard task, but for the Yankee’s, this prayer was answered when Brian Cashman became the general Manager in 1998. Although he may not be the most liked executive in the Yankee’s camp, his presence has made a tremendous impact in the franchises recent years and success, with five World Series appearances in his eight years as GM. Being a level 5 leader is not about how much success you can bring to the business, but how effective you are in creating vision, strategy and team dynamics. Level 5 leaders are more than name they became a brand, behind a name, and Cashman has done just that, with his sometimes perceived arrogance, he has managed to brand the Yankee franchise as the best major league baseball team, and has arose to the challenges of facing an angry owner, he has managed to build the team from the inside out, realizing that without a committed executive office, it doesn’t matter what player you have on your team.
“As commanding leaders go, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman, who demanded and received more autonomy from Steinbrenner two years ago, has the look of a student crossing guard with an orange patrol belt and a tinfoil badge,” according to a recent New York Times article. Although many may dismiss his demeanor as humble and meek not being able to survive the pressures of George Steinbrenner’s franchise ownership he proven everyone wrong, being the longest lasing Yankee GM, and stone cold fighter. Cashman isn’t afraid to step up and bat, and challenge the norms within the industry. No longer are the players Cashman doesn't want foisted on him, as Raul Mondesi and Kenny Lofton once were. "For the last two years I've been able to set course on how we should proceed," Cashman said by phone from Tampa. He isn’t afraid of challenge and does whatever is necessary to make the team a successes in his eyes; even it means possible losing a valuable asset. Seeking the respect of a contract extension with one year remaining on his contract, Mariano Rivera began spring training by challenging Cashman on his quaint egalitarian notion of fairness. “We treat everyone the same,” Cashman said in an attempt to break norm of the Yankees' tradition of overpaying for sentimental value, and just the same Rivera responded that he was not everyone and threatened to exit next year if his contract wish was ignored. However it is his perseverance and will that set him apart from most general managers; he understands the business will stop at no end to achieve in the business. USA Today states, “Cashman is philosophical about the pressures and likens the demands of the job to life in New York. “Nothing less than top shelf, that's what everybody, wants. That's the fabric of being in this city," he says, "You've got to be tough to get through it." So whether he’s classified as an Enigma or one as having one of the worst jobs in sports, Brian Cashman will stop at nothing to build his brand name, the New York Yankees.
Sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tenworstjobs-7-yankeesgm.htm
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/sports/features/9611/
Roberts, Selena. Cashman Is the Answer To Multiple Enigmas. New York Times [New York, N.Y.] 18 Feb. 2007, Late Edition (East Coast): 1
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Show Me the Money: Understanding Leadership Priorty
In every aspect of our lives, having a leader and someone we can look up to is inevitable. These are the people that provide inspiration and lead us in times of doubt, weakness, and troubles, but how do we really know if we have found the right person for the task. I always remember being told that a leader is not born, but rather emerges over time, everyone of us are born with certain talents and skills that are essential leadership characteristics, and it is up to each of us to expand and perfect our skill sets. In every organization there are a variety of people who hold leadership positions but in a successful franchise, what attracts and motivates these individuals to be successful. In order to be a good leader and especially a CEO, there are some essential qualities in which we most fervently look for, including character, the intention to do the right thing, competence, knowing how to do the right thing, and influence, their ability to execute and deliver on the right thing. Within any business operation these qualities are necessary to succeed and ultimately fulfill operations within each of the four quadrants of leadership development, personal, organizational, cultural, and knowledge, but in having a successful enterprise in such an industry as sports all of these become of greater importance at every possible level of operation from the owner and general manager of a team, the head coach and coaching staff, to the players, and even front office staff.
For every sports team in particular a necessary level of connection needs to be experienced at all levels of interaction and team involvement and success. For instance within the professional level, it all begins with a team owner and general manager. In any team organization it is essential for everyone to be on the same page and have the same desire at will and in heart. Often times in such organizations, this level of commitment is non-existent because everyone is only there for themselves and personal motivations and goals. Focusing on the owner and general manager it is necessary for this individual to have a winning mentality and mindset in order to find the right people to bring to his organization to make it successful. Having a general passion for the sport and love of the game is also important, because without this driving passion, no one else will have the will and passion to want to win. Often times in sports we here the phrases, “Show me the money” and “Winning is everything” in order to motivate, but how inspirational are these quotations. Although all of these are important things, they can’t be representative of the team ideals. Secondly, this person must exhibit excellent communication skills and have an inspirational drive to motivate everyone within the organization. This drive for hard work and commitment to the team’s goals are all important but as mentioned in an article entitled, Leadership Run Amok, this can be destructive at times as well. “Too intense a focus on achievement can demolish trust and undermine morale, measurably reducing work place productivity, and eroding confidence in management both inside and outside the corporation.”
While winning is ultimately the goal of every professional organization, it is important for the owner and general manager to have a professional aim towards personal success and community involvement outside of the team. Although, Jay-Z makes a remarkable artist and music producer and truly does have an inspiration drive for success in the corporate world, his level of commitment to the professional sports arena must sometimes be questioned. However, in contrast, although the Patriots were unable to gain a Super Bowl title this season, their owner, Robert Kraft, is one of the best owners and CEO’s within a professional sports organization and understands the importance or a leader-member exchange between everyone involved. So, in conclusion, While winning is important to bring in the money, I want to see a team owner that requires everyone involved to demonstrate the commitment necessary to win not only in the game but in life as well.
For every sports team in particular a necessary level of connection needs to be experienced at all levels of interaction and team involvement and success. For instance within the professional level, it all begins with a team owner and general manager. In any team organization it is essential for everyone to be on the same page and have the same desire at will and in heart. Often times in such organizations, this level of commitment is non-existent because everyone is only there for themselves and personal motivations and goals. Focusing on the owner and general manager it is necessary for this individual to have a winning mentality and mindset in order to find the right people to bring to his organization to make it successful. Having a general passion for the sport and love of the game is also important, because without this driving passion, no one else will have the will and passion to want to win. Often times in sports we here the phrases, “Show me the money” and “Winning is everything” in order to motivate, but how inspirational are these quotations. Although all of these are important things, they can’t be representative of the team ideals. Secondly, this person must exhibit excellent communication skills and have an inspirational drive to motivate everyone within the organization. This drive for hard work and commitment to the team’s goals are all important but as mentioned in an article entitled, Leadership Run Amok, this can be destructive at times as well. “Too intense a focus on achievement can demolish trust and undermine morale, measurably reducing work place productivity, and eroding confidence in management both inside and outside the corporation.”
While winning is ultimately the goal of every professional organization, it is important for the owner and general manager to have a professional aim towards personal success and community involvement outside of the team. Although, Jay-Z makes a remarkable artist and music producer and truly does have an inspiration drive for success in the corporate world, his level of commitment to the professional sports arena must sometimes be questioned. However, in contrast, although the Patriots were unable to gain a Super Bowl title this season, their owner, Robert Kraft, is one of the best owners and CEO’s within a professional sports organization and understands the importance or a leader-member exchange between everyone involved. So, in conclusion, While winning is important to bring in the money, I want to see a team owner that requires everyone involved to demonstrate the commitment necessary to win not only in the game but in life as well.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Friend or Foe: The True Characteristics of a Leader
Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali are two of the most common names that many will answer when asked who is a leader in sports, but sometimes we have to step back and examine what actually makes these individuals so unique. In every American living room, families often hear their children utter the words, “I want to be like Mike,” but what really does this statement mean. In every aspect of our lives we are surrounded by those individuals we consider leaders. Whether in the work place, in the classroom, or outside on the playing field we all look for somebody to take charge and emerge as a leader. What really classifies someone and makes them a good leader? For everybody these characteristics are different, but many will agree that vision, integrity, and courage are some of the most distinctly notable characteristics embodied within a leader.
When answering this question for myself I must consider the numerous coaches and players that play a distinct role in a team’s success. We all look for someone to lead by example and is able to bring out the best qualities in everyone. All of which are essential in such a team atmosphere as the sports industry. Drawing upon my reference of leadership styles, and currently working with the Tennessee Titans organization I understand the importance of incorporating the Leader-Member Exchange theory, which focuses on the value of all members of an organization as essential leaders. Considering this fact, while indeed I agree that both Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali are exceptional representations of leaders within their respective sports and able to bring out the best in all those they encounter, currently I would have to give the award for exceptional leadership to Tony Dungy, head coach for Indianapolis Colts.
Dungy has surpassed the expectations of many being an African American head coach, but by his relentless effort and community involvement. Encouraging his players and coaching staff both on and off the field, his quiet and humble demeanor qualify him for such a recognition. He truly understands the meaning of a team effort and has surpassed the goals of many in his eleven years as an NFL Coach for both Tampa Bay and Indianapolis alike. So in closing, I would like to thank him for serving as a silent leader for me personally, truly embodying the strength and courage necessary to inspire others.
When answering this question for myself I must consider the numerous coaches and players that play a distinct role in a team’s success. We all look for someone to lead by example and is able to bring out the best qualities in everyone. All of which are essential in such a team atmosphere as the sports industry. Drawing upon my reference of leadership styles, and currently working with the Tennessee Titans organization I understand the importance of incorporating the Leader-Member Exchange theory, which focuses on the value of all members of an organization as essential leaders. Considering this fact, while indeed I agree that both Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali are exceptional representations of leaders within their respective sports and able to bring out the best in all those they encounter, currently I would have to give the award for exceptional leadership to Tony Dungy, head coach for Indianapolis Colts.
Dungy has surpassed the expectations of many being an African American head coach, but by his relentless effort and community involvement. Encouraging his players and coaching staff both on and off the field, his quiet and humble demeanor qualify him for such a recognition. He truly understands the meaning of a team effort and has surpassed the goals of many in his eleven years as an NFL Coach for both Tampa Bay and Indianapolis alike. So in closing, I would like to thank him for serving as a silent leader for me personally, truly embodying the strength and courage necessary to inspire others.
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