“It is one of the true compensations of this life that a man cannot help another without also helping himself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Emerson’s quote is my favorite because it communicates the truth that through the vehicle of serving others, our capacity actually increases. For my leadership to be its most effective I must deal with the The Flight Questions which asks “Do I Help Others Soar Higher?”
Peyton Manning makes equipping others an intentional part of his leadership. Peter King mentions several cases of Manning help others reach and even exceed their potential.
- Manning helps lead the prestigious Manning Passing Academy every summer. It is an opportunity for budding quarterbacks and receivers come and work out with the Manning family.
- I have previously discussed the extensive passing tree work Peyton did with Pierre Garcon.
- Manning was working out with first round pick Donald Brown at 8:00 AM the morning after this year’s NFL Draft.
- Manning puts his receivers in positions to be their most effective by leveraging their talents and abilities such as Qadry Ismail’s skill in running double move routes.
- Manning’s work ethic weeds out those who don’t wish to get the most out of their abilities.
- Also previously stated, Manning works an additional 75-90 minutes every Thursday with rookie wideout Austin Collie to help him be as successful as possible.
- The scouting department must work smarter and harder because only the most intelligent and hardest working athletes can play at a sustainable level with Manning.
- The defense is also helped because opposing offenses frequently play from behind limiting their options.
These are just some of the many examples. So did the investment in others yield results in their performance as well as Peyton’s himself? The proof is in the production. Through the first eleven weeks of this season, the following are results:
- Indianapolis Colts 11-0
- Donald Brown – 4.5 rushing yards per attempt and 15.7 yards per his 10 receptions.
- Pierre Garcon – 37 catches, 574 yards, 4 touchdowns
- Austin Collie – 43 catches, 483 yards, 4 touchdowns
- Peyton Manning – 102.5 rating, 3415 yards, 24 tds. The average yards per game total is the highest in his career and the team’s record is the best through 11 games in his career.
The statistics indicate that Peyton’s investment in others has compounded in his own performance which is arguably the highest its ever been.
Serving others does several things in my life:
- It allows me to focus on others instead of being self-centered.
- It allows others to re-invest in me increasing my capacity and performance.
- This sounds narcissistic but I just feel better about myself when I serve others.
- It improves the team’s depth and options because broad-based talent is created.
- It allows me to take a vacation or day off and not worry about the office. It is under control.
The simple reality is that when I help others achieve their goals and desires, I need it more than they do. Join us later this week as we deal with the next question to increasing your capacity. The Margin Question asks “Do I Use My Marginal Time Effectively?”