No matter how healthy your organization is, you can never have enough leaders. Smart leaders are always on the lookout for them and finding ways to add talented influencers to their organizations. But what are these smart leaders actually looking for? Is there a template for emerging leaders that is accessible to everyone?
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan would tell you there is.
With the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the 49ers selected Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy. As expected, during training camp he was marginalized and did not receive many opportunities to display his talents. However, due to injuries he was starting by Week 11. Purdy played so well that he led the 49ers to the NFL Championship game where they eventually lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami interviewed the Coach Shanahan in this article to find out when he knew Purdy would be his quarterback.
As we read his comments below, Coach Shanahan provides a template to spot a leader.
Emerging Leaders Have A Sense Of Urgency
Emerging leaders do not waste opportunity. Shanahan said, “What you noticed was, he didn’t mess around.”
Emerging Leaders Are Doing Their Job
The #1 piece of advice I give to emerging leaders is to simply do your job. This will get you noticed faster than anything.
Shanahan added, “Like, it was so decisive, what he did. He didn’t go in there and try to overly impress it with a first rep, like, ‘Hey, I’m going to get the big play.’ Whatever play was called, whatever the two reps were, he did that and it was like a machine. And by the end of OTAs, we’re like, ‘Man, this young guy is a machine.’ ”
Emerging Leaders Deliver Consistent Excellence
Shanahan continued, “And once he played in the games, it was so similar, the good and the bad, to what we saw in practice. … And (Purdy) came in, he was the exact same in the games as he was in practice. I think that’s kinda what’s been easy for us as coaches, is that even though it wasn’t a lot, it was always consistent.”
Emerging Leaders Have Earned The Confidence Of Their Teammates
Purdy’s consistency is what won over his teammates. Shanahan declared, “That’s why I don’t think you guys ever heard the players waver. Cause they saw it in practice.”
Emerging Leaders Have Overcome Adversity
In the December 11th game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Purdy suffered broken ribs. But he still led the team to a 35-7 victory. Four days later in a Thursday night game against the Seattle Seahawks, he led the 49ers to a 21-13 win. Shanahan knew he had found his leader.
He said, “That’s when I knew we had a dude. Because of how good he had played I think the two weeks prior. But that game, I think he had broken ribs from a Sunday. … And then watching him in that game, knowing how hurt he was and watching how he just managed it on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ and some of the plays he made to move the chains on third-and-1 at the end, scrambling, I knew we had a dude who was made up the right way.”
For a deeper dive into the faith of the 49ers quarterback, read 10 Statements on the Faith and Leadership of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
Emerging Leaders Can Handle Pressure
Nowhere in the Bible did God ever call anyone to an easy task. Leadership is hard and leaders rarely have two good days in a row. Pressure is a constant. Shanahan knew Purdy was someone “who could handle the pressure and stuff.”
Emerging Leaders Produce Results
Emerging leaders make things happen. This is the ultimate litmus test in identifying new leaders. Purdy had a regular season record of 7-0 and won his first two playoff games.
Conclusion
A sense of urgency, doing their job, consistent excellence, confidence from others, overcome adversity, the ability to handle pressure, and producing results. If you have someone in your organization who fits this profile, you have likely found the leader you are looking for.
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