Ricky Bobby Leadership 101: Understanding Success that Matters
Thousands of years ago humans were very similar to how we are today. The following statements from Ricky Bobby continue to ring true through the ages.
"I don’t know what to do with my hands." Name one person that can’t relate!
"If you're not first, you’re last."
These statements ring true from the ball field to the conference room. These statements also impact our ability to lead.
The first one is obvious. Do I hold a cup, put my hands in my pocket, put them in the air like I just don’t care … It’s important to know how to present and what to do with your hands. (We can provide presentation coaching if you need it.) The more pressing issue for me is the second statement and how it impacts everything we do. If we're not first, we're last.
A few weeks ago, on a cool Saturday morning, there was a heated soccer match in the Fayetteville Recreational Soccer League for girls 5 and under. Picture 4 girls who are 4- and 5-years old competing for the opportunity to get snacks at the end of the intense competition. This story helps me believe that God is real and active in our lives. The opponents coach stood about 6 feet tall and weighed in around 263 pounds. He was actively moving on the field to try and motivate and coach his girls to victory.
Then, it happened. He began to turn his comments towards the other coaches (my wife and sister-in-law) and then he turned his comments towards the 5-year-old girl on our team who was unstoppable on that day. She couldn’t miss the goal! The coach knew that Ricky Bobby was right and could see the local news stations' headlines before they were written about his big loss. He began trying to stand in her way to block the goal and that didn’t work. He began to talk down to the little girl and that didn’t work. Coaches and dad stepped in. Then I stepped in to make sure local news outlets didn’t have a real reason to join us that day.
If you're not first, you’re last!
Some people can become a bit insane; they can lose themselves in the pursuit of winning. The key is to make sure we know what a “win” actually is. The opponent's coach could have celebrated a 5-year-old's stellar performance and helped her enjoy what was going to be a great day. She is 5 after all. Instead he gave her a story of how leaders can go for the wrong win.
Think of it this way ... In your pursuit of success make sure you are actually being successful.
Success is setting policies in place that reward good sales not moving numbers to get the reward.
Success is setting policies in place so teams are rewarded for collaboratively getting the goal instead of creating a culture of finger pointing.
Success is helping a team member improve and develop through coaching instead of receiving a bad annual review after a year with minimal to no feedback.
You want to be first. Who doesn’t? Be first in what matters.
Love your life at work. Help your team love life at work.
Love your life at home. Help your team leave work in a way that helps them engage in life after work.
It's what we strive to do best at Insight Leadership Group.
Three Opportunities to Consider [learn more: ryan@insightlg.com]
Manager Development: Register your managers for our Courageous Manager’s Virtual Cohort launching in the Spring 2023. Watch for new dates coming soon.
Executive Development: Sign up for executive coaching.
Let us know you are interested in our next Courageous Leaders Executive Experience to help leaders rest, think and prepare to lead well. Distilled coming Spring 2023. See more info below.
