#334: Leadership lessons from the Detroit Lions
Practical examples of how to apply these principles to your team or organization.
For my long-time readers, you know my love for the Detroit Lions. I haven’t missed a home game in 23 years, and only two games on TV in the same period. I’ve sat through every minute of the 0-16 Season, and tears came to my eyes the night they clinched a playoff spot against the Chargers on Christmas Eve, 2011. I am also a realist and don’t go into every season thinking they finally have turned the corner and will win it all. But for the first time in all of these years, we have a true leader as the coach of this team. Dan Campbell. What has he done that you can use in building your team?
Painting a picture
Dan Campbell painted a picture in his first few days of what he wanted his Detroit Lions team to represent. Grit, Collaboration, and Conviction. Every decision he has made since then has revolved around those three words. Outside of the business decisions that must be made, his roster has been built with players exhibiting all three characteristics. And because of that, they love being around each other and playing for him.
This is his vision. There is no chance a player who doesn’t believe in these three words will be on the roster. His team knows it, and fans know it. If someone doesn’t make the 53-man roster for the weekend, we no longer question why. We understand that he may have broken the code if it wasn’t an injury that sidelined him.
What are your three words?
When you have multiple options, what is your filter for your team? What things must every decision revolve around? These are the words where there is no compromise. In Coach Campbell’s requirements, you don’t see the word talent. There are plenty of talented players to choose from. Did you know that on ‘cut-day’ at the end of the pre-season, 1,100 players were let go. Some signed with another team, and others became insurance salespeople. Talent may or may not have been why they were allowed to go. But to be a Lion in 2023, they must have had grit, conviction, and were willing to collaborate.
Are you keeping someone on your team for only having talent? Does this person exhibit the culture you want your future team to have? If not, it’s time to look for someone else to fill that position. There is enough talent in the world for that never to be your sole reason for keeping them on your 53-man roster.
Find your words and live them. Make sure that the team you are responsible for is built around them. As you make decisions, run them through the filter of these three words. If any decision you have to create a conflict with your terms, it’s a nogo.
4th and 2 on your own 17
For those who don’t know football, this won’t mean much to you, so let me explain quickly. It’s crazy not to punt the ball away under these conditions. But Dan Campbell called a fake punt Thursday night against the World Champion Kansas City Chiefs and made the 1st Down. How did the team respond? They finished a 14-play, 91-yard drive with a touchdown and took the lead 7-0. And what he also did was prove to his team that he had faith in them.
Let’s contrast that with a story from my High School football days.
We were preparing for our opening game during our final week of practice. We spent the week running the game plan over and over so we could get consistent. As an offense, we pulled the coach aside and asked him to review the sequence of some of the plays.
“Why would we want to call three plays in a row designed for short yardage? These plays would not give us the 10 yards needed for any first down”.
The coach immediately answered with excitement and said, “boys, you get me 3 yards three plays in a row, and I guarantee we will go for it on 4th down”.
You may have already guessed it: on our first series of the year, we got him his three yards, three plays in a row, and he called in the punt team. He not only lost the team that day, but we lost every game afterward. He didn’t believe in us; why should we believe in him?
Two new coaches, two similar situations, and two dramatically different outcomes.
Do you have your teams back? Have you empowered them to go for it on 4th and 2? Did you swoop in right before a project's end to ensure they got it right? Did you call for the punt team?
Dan Campbell’s team wasn’t put together overnight. He has preached his three words and has gone for it on 4th down more than any coach in the past few years. He has taken a lot of flack for how he managed his team and his aggressive playcalling. Thursday night’s win over the reigning Super Bowl Champs came after much hard work. Again, leadership is a process that his hard work today will lead to a better tomorrow.
Do you need someone to review your playbook? Call us at the Kole Performance Group for a free 30-minute consultation!
And just a reminder of the results from last Thursday!