Genius is making the complicated simple, not the simple complicated. Therefore, in an effort to make you a better leader, I want to simplify the process by looking at one industry’s top executive leaders and learning from his life.
John Elway, general manager of the 2016 Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, was a legendary Hall of Fame quarterback who has successfully transitioned into his current role on the team. In an August 1st NFL Network training camp interview, Elway discussed a variety of topics including leadership and being a successful quarterback.
As I listened to his thoughts, I gleaned the following 9 Habits Of Highly Successful Executive Leaders. Three additional habits from a January 12th, 2015 Sports Illustrated interview are included as well. All quotes are from Elway.
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Are Always Looking Forward – “We’re chasing another championship. We’re not trying to defend anything.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Evaluate Current Reality – “The great thing about training camp is we get to go figure out where we are.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Value Stability And Consistency – “You’re trying to find that guy (quarterback/leader) who can be there for 12-15 years and perform and win football games for you.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Are Confident Leaders – “As they gain confidence they’ll (quarterbacks) gain that leadership ability.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Deliver Superior Results – “Where leadership comes from, especially as a quarterback, is you have to go out and perform. And when you perform they will follow you. And they will follow you in tough spots.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Position Themselves For Success – “If we can get him in the right situations with the right people around him and let him go, ultimately it’s up to him and the decision-making process is something we can’t control.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Are Aggressive – “When you lose confidence as a quarterback you’re not going to get it back because when you lose the confidence, you’re not going to be as aggressive as your need to be.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Make Excellent Decisions – “When you talk about decision-making at that (quarterback) position, that’s what separates the greats from the average is the fact is they make great, aggressive decisions 99% of the time.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Have Many Options – “He’s (Peyton Manning) got a lot of options and doesn’t need any of them.”
Sports Illustrated, January 12th, 2015
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Are Continually Getting Better – “After the Super Bowl (43-8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks) I was on that bus the next morning, and all I could think is, How are we going to get better.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Sense And Seize Momentum – “Momentum swings in a Super Bowl are five times what they are in a normal game. It’s so much bigger. When things go against you. It’s like a wave.”
- Highly Successful Executive Leaders Delegate Responsibility – “When I realized I’m not the one who has to do it all that we started winning championships…I threw for 120 yards (in Super Bowl XXXII) and we won. I was like, I don’t care! I did my job!”
What is one thing you can take from this list to make you a better leader?
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