The most important thing your organization will ever do is its selection of leaders. John Maxwell has taught for years that everything rises and falls on leadership. The fact is your organization will rise or fall to its level of leaders. So what should you be looking for when selecting those will have significant influence in your organization?
On Monday, March 13th quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Garoppolo has long been considered an incredible team leader and locker room presence. The day of the signing I saw the following Twitter post. As I looked at the comments, it built a profile of what to look for in a leader and why the Raiders valued Garoppolo so much.
Drawing Jimmy G every day until he gets traded. Day 404: Last Day ❤️💛 pic.twitter.com/0Imsv5Bd4I
— Rita Oak (@ritaoak_art) March 13, 2023
Your success as an organization will be largely predicated on building a profile of the type of leader who can help you go to the next level and securing that individual’s services. After reading the quotes above from people in the 49ers organization, the following are 11 Things To Look For When Adding A Leader To Your Organization we learn from Jimmy Garoppolo:
- Look For A Leader With Proven Results – “Thank you Jimmy. Our team was in some dark days before you came. Fortunate to see the day to day process and what you go through. Major respect for you.” – defensive end Arik Armstead. Just to remind everyone, Garoppolo had a 39-18 record as a starter with the 49ers and took them to Super Bowl LIV.
- Look For A Leader You Will Be Grateful To Have Representing Your Organization – “In a week of Thanksgiving, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for Jimmy, and that’s not just because of the way he’s playing; it’s the way he’s conducted himself the entire time he’s been here.” – general manager John Lynch
- Look For A Leader Other People Will Take A Proverbial Bullet For – “Jimmy Garoppolo is our leader, and we will follow him into the darkest of darks. We can follow him into a dark alley, and I can guarantee you won’t touch him.” – former teammate Richard Sherman
- Look For A Leader People Will Be Excited To Work With – “I’m just excited that he’s my quarterback, and I get to keep catching passes from him.” – tight end George Kittle
- Look For A Leader Who Can Build Long-Term Relationships – “He’s going to be one of my best friends for my whole entire life.” – fellow 49er quarterback Trey Lance
- Look For A Leader With The Right Temperament – “He is as cool and collected as a quarterback as I have ever had, and he’s the perfect guy to lead us where we need to go.” – defensive end Nick Bosa
- Look For Someone People Will See As A Leader – “We see him as the leader of the team, and I’m gonna ride behind him.” – wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk
- Look For A Leader Who Can Make A Long-Term Impact On Your Organization – “I don’t want Jimmy around for a couple more months. I want Jimmy around for ten years.” – former 49er Steve Young
- Look For A Leader Who Will Have Consistent Excellence – “He continues to show up as a player and as a leader for this team.” – linebacker Fred Warner
- Look For A Leader Who Can Raise Up Other Leaders – “I love Jimmy. What he’s done in terms of taking me in and being a brother to me … He wants the guys in the room to be better and push him as well.” – quarterback Brock Purdy
- Look For A Leader Who Can Leave A Lasting Legacy – “I’ve been a Jimmy fan since I’ve been there. When I say I’m going to rock with him, I’m going to rock with him. Even if he’s not part of the team, I’m still going to be a Jimmy fan.” – wide receiver Deebo Samuel
Do you have a profile for what you are looking for in a leader? If not, will the list above help you build one?
To learn more about what great leaders look like, my latest book Mighty: 7 Skills You Need to Move from Pandemic to Progress is available for purchase. Production. Passion. Resilience. Teamwork. Contentment. Courage. Faith. These seven skills were embodied over three thousand years ago by a group of elite warriors known as David’s Mighty Men. These highly-capable individuals helped take David, the man who had previously defeated Goliath, from a wilderness experience to leading a nation. Did 2020 feel like a wilderness experience for you? So many people lost loved ones, opportunities, financial resources, careers, time, and much, much more during COVID. The worst thing many people lost was hope. COVID stripped away the non-essentials in our lives. It revealed how foolish pride, ego, and narcissism are. It made us question almost everything in our lives, including God himself. COVID brought us all to our knees in one form or fashion. I want you to know the same skills used by David’s’ Mighty Men still work today. In my new book Mighty: 7 Skills You Need to Move from Pandemic to Progress, I show you how applying these skills can help you become Mighty and move from the Pandemic to Progress. Click HERE or on the image provided to order!