Have you ever been in the boss’s doghouse? I have and if you have lived any length of time, so have you. It’s lonely in the doghouse. It’s depressing and humbling. There are also no invitations for getting out of the doghouse. You must work your way. But how?
I went deep into my personal archives and found a September 12, 2013 USA Today article about how fumbles drive NFL coaches crazy. So much so, it is the quickest way to get in their doghouse. What I enjoyed about the story was the balance between the reality of the consequences of our actions but also ways to overcome our mistakes.
The following are 10 Things You Can Do To Get Out Of Your Boss’s Doghouse I gleaned from the article:
- Do Not Make The Same Mistake Over And Over – Nothing gets you out of the doghouse faster than producing positive results. You simply need to improve your performance.
- Keep Pressing Forward – Keep working. Keeping grinding away. Minnesota Vikings linebacker said, “It’s not a good feeling, obviously, but something that you can fix…just keep plugging away.”
- Stop Hurting Your Team And Start Helping Your Team – Do not put your teammates in harm’s way. Two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Parcells would tell his running backs, “This is a declarative statement: ‘If you keep fumbling the ball, you’re not going to play.’ It’s as simple as that.”
- Fix Your Problem(s) – This requires humility and a desire to change. Parcells added, “Just because you know what the problem is, that doesn’t mean you can solve it.”
- Accept Constructive Feedback – Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Cody Larsen said, “You get The Look. Or you get a play run over and over in the meeting room.”
- Stay Positive – There will be brighter days ahead. Ravens tight end Billy Bajema said, “We say things (to teammates in the doghouse) like, ‘Keep you head up.’ Or, ‘When you get your opportunity, you’ll get past this.’ You always want to be supportive, because sooner or later we all know what it’s like.”
- Know What You Can Control – Focus your energies. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson said, “The coach told me to remember there are things that I can control.”
- Surround Yourself With People Who Will Encourage You – Johnson added, “It’s like you let the team down. The thing that gets you beyond it is when your brothers tell you. ‘Everything’s cool.’ Or the coaches tell you, ‘We’re still riding with you.'”
- Make The Most Of The Opportunities You Are Given – Ravens offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie said, “You get limited reps in practice.” This is one of the consequences of your actions. But former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Boomer Esiason added, “It’s just a matter of getting angry and making the most of every opportunity you have.”
- Be Accountable – Accept responsibility for your actions and for getting better. Former Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Cowher said, “It’s about holding people accountable, and with that comes a little pushing and prodding – and a lot of patting them on the back.”
What is one thing learned from this list that will help you or someone else get out of the boss’s doghouse?
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