“People are looking for reasons not to pick you. They’re looking for reasons not to hire you. So don’t give anyone a reason to say, ‘BUT.’ That’s the only way you can create value for yourself.” —Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban
***Note*** The following is an excerpt from my new book 2021: The Year In Leadership – The Stories of Faith, Athletics, Business and Life Which Inspired Us All releasing on April 12th. To pre-order copies for you and your team click HERE or on the image provided.
Most decisions made about your career are made when you are not in the room. Think about it. You were not there when someone in the admissions office approved your application to college. You were not in the room when it was decided you would be promoted, given a salary increase, or retained during a time of layoffs and cutbacks. Therefore, since you are not in these rooms, you will need advocates in the room who will represent you well and say nice things about you to others.
Coach Saban needs no introduction to anyone who is interested in leadership. With the NFL Draft about to take place, he took the time to give an interview on how leaders can create value for themselves. He knows his players are being talked about in NFL circles they are not in and teaches them how they can maximize their value. Coach Saban puts players (and leaders for that matter) into one of two categories: “And People” or “But People.” Allow him to explain. Coach Saban said, “I tell our players all the time the two most compelling words in the Draft report is ‘and’ and ‘but.’”
He explains an “and” person does this, this, and this well—and. The coach then gave some examples, “And he’s a good person. He was a leader on the team. He graduated from school. The coaches loved him.”
The contrast, though, is the person who does this, this, and this well—but. But he had a positive drug test. He had a domestic violence incident with his girlfriend. He got in a fight in the bar when he was a freshman. The strength coach said he wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire.”
Then he asks his players and those listening the obvious question, “Who do you want on your team—And or But?” Coach Saban then evaluated reality, “You don’t realize as soon as you apply for a job, as soon as you put your name in for the Draft, people are looking for reasons not to pick you. They’re looking for reasons not to hire you. So don’t give anyone a reason to say, ‘but.’ That’s the only way you can create value for yourself.” He then summarized his thoughts prior to the NFL Draft by asking, “How do I create value for myself? I might have to edit my behavior a little bit.”
So the question is obvious—Are you an “And leader” or a “But leader”? If you are a ”But leader,” what edits are you willing to make in your leadership to reverse this perception of yourself?
For more from Coach Saban and dozens of other great leaders, my latest book 2021: The Year In Leadership – The Stories of Faith, Athletics, Business and Life Which Inspired Us All which is currently available for pre-order!!! Each chapter is filled with wisdom and insights from the leaders who both succeeded and struggled during 2021. I takes those lessons from all walks of life and gives you practical steps on how to best use them in your own leadership. As you will discover, the stories are entertaining, challenging, inspiring, and sometimes even sobering.
Get this must-read book TODAY by clicking HERE or on the image provided. It releases April 12th.