Every organization I speak with or study wants to become more creative. I also know everything rises and falls on leadership. Therefore, if an organization wishes to be more creative, it must start with the leader becoming more creative.
The great writer Peter King posted an article today on one of the most creative and innovative leaders in pro sports – New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. King had the privilege of getting a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s planning process for its game against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. It is a must-read article which you can find here.
As I read the article, I gleaned the following 12 Habits Of The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders:
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Receive Great Joy From The Creative Process – Head coach Sean Payton was downright giddy when he said, “This is the first time in NFL history a play like this has been run from this formation! Ever!” after designing a new play for the game against the Eagles.
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Work Just As Hard On The Mundane Activities As The Creative Ones – During the Saints Saturday walk-through the team worked just as hard on the fundamental plays as they did the gadget plays.
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Pivot Quickly – The play Payton referred to in point #1 was just designed two days prior. They were not beholden to established plans.
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Ask “Why not?” instead of “Why?” – When asked by Payton if the play would work, quarterback coach Joe Lombardi said, “Why not? We can do anything we want.”
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Have A Talented Creative Team Around Them – Payton had 17 people in his game-planning meeting.
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Are Democratic – Quarterback Drew Brees has an opportunity to speak into which plays he would like to run.
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Are Experienced – The Saints offense has been evolving to the point it is now since 2006.
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Have A Competitive Advantage – The Philadelphia Eagles are 1-11 with Carson Wentz at quarterback and the opposing team scores 26 points. Furthermore, they are 0-9 when Wentz passes between 308 and 364 yards. In other words, when the Eagles have no running game and are one-dimensional, they lose. Conversely, the Saints are one of the most multi-dimensional teams in the league and their record reflects it.
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Are Teachers – Payton said, “Last night, I put on the Football Life with Mike Holmgren. He used to be a third-grade teacher, and I think that’s great training for what we do.”
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Embrace Scarcity – Abundance does not result in creativity. Innovation does. Payton continued, “We gotta put a plan together with who is in the building—not with who we wish was in the building. We gotta evolve with who we have.”
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Learn From Other Creative Leaders – Payton added, “I look at the league a lot. I look at all the scoring plays every week. I look at [Bill] Belichick and New England. I look at Sean McVay. I found a good one last night. I hadn’t watched all of New England’s offensive plays in the Super Bowl against Philadelphia in a while, and so last night, I put the tape on.”
- The Most Creative, Innovative, And Ground-Breaking Leaders Have High Intelligence – Saints wide receiver Austin Carr said, “Sean loves that because he’s such a football nerd. He’s the football equivalent of a coder.”
By the way, New Orleans won the game 48-7. It was the largest loss a defending Super Bowl champion has ever experienced.
What is one thing you learned from the New Orleans Saints and head coach Sean Payton which will make you a better leader?
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