Leadership Lessons from College Football: Maximize and Recognize your Rudys

We’re so close to the kick-off of football season that you can almost taste it. Less than four days to go till the season kicks-off with Thursday night match-ups.

With the kick-off of the season, it’s hard to neglect the leadership lessons that come from the game, the players and thecoaches. With all the coaches talking about practices and preparing their team, another leadership lesson struck me last week.Every player is important.

Find “some dreamers that just won’t quit.”

Nick Saban was being interviewed after a practice and what did he talk about? The walk-ons.   The walk-ons? Most people would think, who cares about them? Let’s talk about whether or not Yeldon (the star running back) or McCarron (the star quarter back) have a shot at the Heisman this year. Why would we talk about the walk-ons?

Saban discussed how the walk-ons are, week in and week out, the key to getting the team ready for the games. If they weren’t willing to give their all in practice, the team wouldn’t be ready for its next opponent.

We all need some “dreamers that just won’t quit” to inspire success on our team. Talent only takes you so far. The rest is sheer heart.

 

 

Want to inspire your team to see the value in every player?

Nothing illustrates the value of team drive and morale affected by a walk-on than the movie Rudy.   Show it to your people, and facilitate a discussion about the value every person brings to the table.

Here are some things you might want to discuss with your team after watching the movie:

1. How does talent only go so far in the workplace?
2. What does the coach mean by, “I wish I could put your heart in some of my players bodies.”?   How do you select and/or train people to have “heart” in the workplace?
3. Who are your Rudys in the workplace? Do they get rewarded and recognized for their effort? Why or why not?
4. How you could create more Rudys in the workplace?