Every smart leader knows the importance of raising up the next generation of leaders. Raising up new, young leaders ensures your sustainability as an organization. Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian frequently points out all teams should be “green and growing”. They should be adding young leaders and developing them.
Trent Dilfer is the head coach of an organization called Elite 11 and one of my favorite leaders. Dilfer and his team of coaches identifies the top 11 high school quarterbacks in America. He then brings them together for intense coaching and competition designed to help them grow first as people, and then as athletes.
This past weekend, the NFL Network produced a one-hour special chronicling this year’s event. You will never see a finer example of how to develop young leaders. Dilfer and his staff have passion, experience, knowledge, wisdom, and a strong desire to see the quarterback position played at its highest level. However, Dilfer’s passion to see young leaders develop into quality men is primary.
The following are 26 Things You Must Do To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders I gleaned from this year’s Elite 11. First is the lesson followed by a quote from the program.
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders You Must Set Expectations Early – “We’re going to do a lot of good stuff. We’re going to work hard. We’re going to coach you hard. You will be better when you leave.” – Dilfer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Show Them The Value Of Continual Improvement – “I didn’t have my best day yesterday. I can definitely improve on what I’ve done.” – Auburn commit Bo Nix
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Tell Them Everything Matters – “We’ll be grading each throw.” – Elite 11 Director of Scouting Joey Roberts
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Create Moments That Stretch Them – “What we try to do with Pro Day is create anxiety.” – Elite 11 coach Yogi. Roth
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Instill Progression-Based Learning – “I call it progression-based passing, progression-based learning.” – Roberts
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Never Let Them Settle For Average – “Don’t settle for average.” – Dilfer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Give Them A Personal Development Plan – The Elite 11 scoring system in its 7-On-7 competition was Playbook Knowledge (Intelligence), Coverage Recognition (Insightfulness), Timing, Footwork Execution, and Ball Placement (Accuracy).
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Teach Them To Be Authentic – “It’s not being perfect. It’s being you.” – Dilfer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Train Them Properly – “He really freed his mind through some of the training allowing his physically ability to come out.” – Elite 11 president Brian Stumpf on Brian Mauer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Build Their Confidence – “Confidence is the most important trait in a quarterback.” – Elite 11 coach Jordan Palmer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Model Humility – “Bo has that unique combination of confidence and humility.” – Palmer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Expose Them To Other Great Leaders – Some of the many athletes brought in to invest in the players were Rob Gronkowski, Andy Dalton, Todd Gurley, Willie McGinest, Deshaun Watson, Cam Newton, and DeMarcus Ware.
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Teach Them The Importance Of Focus – “Dedication and focus on how to get better.” – Gronk on Tom Brady
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Have Them Give Back To Those Less Fortunate – The Elite 11 partners with NEGU – Never Ever Give Up, an organization which helps children fight debilitating illnesses.
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Have Them Serve Their Community Well – “A lot of these kids want to be Deshaun Watson. They have to understand how awesome Deshaun is off the field. How active he is in his community and how selfless he is to those around him.” – Palmer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Have The Focus On Results – “They have to throw the ball across the goal line and that’s the hardest thing to do in football.” – Dilfer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Show Them What Opportunity Looks Like – “So far today, Bo has taken every snap. He has taken advantage of his opportunity.” – Differ
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Teach Them How To Handle Success – “He got hot, stayed hot and was able to handle success well.” – Dilfer on Nix
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Have Them Correct Their Own Mistakes – “The epitome to be of a quarterback was Peyton Manning. He controlled the whole team… He didn’t take any trash. Everything was meticulously done and if it wasn’t done right, we’re going to do it again.” – Ware
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Make Them Work Hard – “You’ve got to put the work in.” – McGinest
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Ask Hard Questions – “When what you love the most is taken away from you, you start to really question why am I here?” – Diler
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Teach Them What Is Truly Important – “And you start questioning what am I here, what we do starts becoming way less important than who we are.” – Dilfer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Teach Them To Build Teams – “What’s bigger than who you are and what your ranking is is your tribe. Right now it might just be your family. As life goes on, that tribe, that team grows.” – Dilfer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Teach Them What Is Worth Living For – “It’s our team, our tribe, something bigger than us that we’re living life for.” – Dilfer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Teach Them To Be Lifelong Learners – “That’s what this game can teach us.” – Dilfer
- To Raise Up The Next Generation Of Leaders Teach Them Where Their Worth And Value Truly Lie – “I want everyone to go off to college to know who you are and your worth is in that, not what you do.” – Dilfer
What is one thing you learned from the Elite 11 competition which will help you raise up the next generation of leaders?
Click HERE or on the image to the left and as a free gift for subscribing to this site, you can receive my new Ebook 1269 Leadership Quotes: Timeless Truths From 2016’s Top Christian Leadership Conferences. Featured are the Johnny Hunt Mens Conference, ReThink Leadership, Orange and Leadercast Conferences among others. If applied, these insights will make you an exponentially better leader. Enjoy!!!