There are things which DEEPLY matter only to leaders.  Things which determine the difference between success and failure.  Things which determine that which is enduring.  Things which change lives.  Non-leaders often do not recognize the importance of many of these nuances.

I was reminded of this truth today as I watched my favorite weekly television show ESPN College Gameday.  As the show’s hosts previewed today’s games, the following are 25 Things Which Deeply Matter To Leaders which I captured from their comments:

  • Being Put Into Position To Succeed Deeply Matters To Leaders
  • Legacy Deeply Matters To Leaders – “The Heisman is special.” – David Pollack
  • Winning Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Nobody talked about it (lack of leadership) for the first four games when we played really well.” – Alabama head coach Nick Saban
  • Energy Deeply Matters To Leaders – “We didn’t have a lot of energy last week.  We didn’t play with the same kind of intensity we like to play with.” – Saban
  • Performing Well In Critical Moments Deeply Matters To Leaders – “What they (Alabama) didn’t do well was in critical situations play situational football really well.” – Tim Tebow
  • Self-Awareness Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Unless you’re in the locker room you don’t know have a clue.  A.J. McCarron coming out with this comment, I think it’s way off base and you need to keep your mouth shut when it comes to leadership.” – Pollack
  • Keeping Everyone Calm Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Leadership comes into question when you’re playing on the road because you have to weather the storm.” – Desmond Howard
  • Experience Deeply Matters To Leaders – “The veterans we have here have been down this road before.” – Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly
  • Confidence Deeply Matters To Leaders – “I’m sure he (Jeff Driskell) doesn’t have a lot of confidence right now…He’s 2 for 25 on passes beyond 15 yards.” – Tebow
  • Talent Deeply Matters To Leaders – “They haven’t had receivers since Tim Tebow was the quarterback there.” – Kirk Herbstreit
  • Production Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Two reasons Mississippi State is undefeated – 5 straight games of 500 yards of total offense and on defense they stop the run.” – Lee Corso.  Chris Fowler added later, “(Penn State quarterback Christian) Hackenberg hasn’t thrown a TD pass in his last three games.”
  • Developing Talent Deeply Matters To Leaders – “The Junior College system is great in this state (MS).” – Corso
  • Preparation Deeply Matters To Leaders – “I like our preparation.  We’re not too giddy over a great win.  We seem to know that’s not going to help us win.  The leadership understands that.” – Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze
  • Being Focused Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Let’s stay focused.” – Ole Miss defensive end Robert Nkemdiche
  • Complacency (Or Lack Thereof) Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Sunday after we watched the film.  Throw it in the trash and be ready for the next one.” – Ole Miss C.J. Johnson
  • The Importance Of Leadership Deeply Matters To Leaders – “He outcoached Nick Saban last weekend.” – Herbstreit on Coach Freeze
  • Having A Quality Team Around You Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Penn State can’t run the ball.  That’s why Christian Hackenberg is struggling the way he is.” – Herbstreit
  • Solving Problems Deeply Matters To Leaders – “As a leader, as a quarterback his job is to mitigate problems.” – George Whitfield on Hackenberg
  • Finishing Well Deeply Matters To Leaders – “(Mississippi State quarterback) Dak Prescott is a finisher.” – Whitfield
  • Fundamentals Deeply Matter To Leaders – “Technique will win the battle at the end of the day.” – Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman
  • Evaluating Reality Deeply Matters To Leaders
  • Intelligence Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Our football intelligence was lacking.” – Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich on last week’s loss.
  • Relevance Deeply Matters To Leaders – “We wanted to become more relevant and we’ve done that.  But if you lose you become irrelevant again.” – Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez
  • Support Deeply Matters To Leaders – “You don’t win and then the fans show up.  The fans show up first…They create a great gameday atmosphere and the wins come.”-  Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen
  • Consistent Work Ethic Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Everyday he (Prescott) shows up with an unbelievable work ethic and wants to get better.” – Mullen

What deeply matters to you as a leader?

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