If a pastor or leader has been at any location for an extended period of time, then his or her people have heard all of their stories multiple times.  When the team hears the first sentence of a familiar narrative, their mind immediately jumps straight to the end of the story.  In essence, they play a leadership version of the old television show Name That Tune.  “I can that tune in three notes” they think.

In the unhealthiest of environments, these stories are met with daydreaming, eye-rolling, boredom, and even disgust.  We recently saw this play out when Richard Sherman, the future Hall of Fame cornerback, was cut by the Seattle Seahawks.

Sherman appeared as a guest on Uninterrupted’s “The Thomahawk Show” and indicated head coach Pete Carroll’s message had become stale.  He said, “I think it was kind of philosophical on his part. A lot of us have been there six, seven, eight years, and his philosophy is more built for college. Four years, guys rotate in, rotate out, and so we had kind of heard all his stories, we had kind of heard every story, every funny anecdote that he had. And honestly because he just recycles them. And they’re cool stories, they’re great for team chemistry and building, etcetera, etcetera. But we had literally heard them all. We could recite them before he even started to say them.”

Sherman, a Stanford graduate, is considered highly intelligent but I think he is incorrect on his analysis of Coach Carroll’s leadership.  In fact, I feel his comments were disingenuous, disrespectful and disloyal.  First, let’s take a quick look at Carroll’s credentials:

  • Super Bowl XLVIII champion
  • In 8 seasons as Seattle’s head coach, Carroll has a 79-48-1 record (62.1%)
  • During this time, Seattle has won 4 division titles and came in second three times.
  • Two-time NCAA national champion at USC where he amassed a 97-19 (83.6%)
  • 7 consecutive Top 4 finishes
  • 53 of his players were drafted by NFL teams, 14 in the first round.

Bottom line – Pete Carroll can flat-out coach!!!  And it is highly likely your pastor can flat-out preach and your boss can flat-out lead!!!

Second, the ability to finish your pastor or coach’s sentences is a good thing, not a bad thing.  It means the leader has been consistent.  It means the leadership has been authentic, reliable and faithful.  An ethos has been created.  Culture has been established.  More importantly, a leader’s vision has clearly been transferred to those serving under him.

This is what Sherman is missing.  When a leader such as Sherman has had a vision transferred to him, there is a significant responsibility which comes with this.  You are a co-owner of the vision and therefore, now have the leadership responsibility of multiplying the vision to the newer members of the team and those you have influence over.

You should now be a multiplier of the vision, not a hindrance to it.  Rather than saying Carroll’s message is stale, Sherman should be going to the younger players reinforcing his words.

At the risk of becoming stale my myself, let me conclude my thoughts by saying the ability to finish your leader’s thoughts, sentences, and stories represents a tipping point.  The vision has now been transferred to you.  With this transference comes a leadership responsibility.  You are now responsible as a leader for transferring the vision to those you have influence over – not acting disinterested, disrespectful or disloyal.

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