The following are five questions leaders need to be constantly asking about the expansion or contraction of their leadership influence:
Alaska Is Growing
The United States State Department reported in this article that the state of Alaska, already America’s largest state, has grown by a million additional square miles. This 60% growth is the result of a redefinition of how far the continental shift extends under water.
Mead Treadwell, a former Alaska lieutenant governor and former chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, said, “America is larger than it was yesterday. It’s not quite the Louisiana Purchase. It’s not quite the purchase of Alaska, but the new area of land and subsurface resources under the land controlled by the United States is two Californias larger.”
The state of Alaska is always looking for new territory. As a leader, are you constantly looking for marginal gains, distressed assets others overlook, or creative opportunities like underwater plots of land to expand your influence?
Understanding Success
Most teams and organizations do not know why they win or lose. Case in point:
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in the recent AFC Championship game. But at closer inspection, the Ravens lost the game more than the Chiefs won it. Let me explain.
The Ravens had two turnovers in the Chiefs’s end zone negating 14 possible points. But worse was their highly criticized game plan. The Ravens were the NFL’s top running offense this year. Its running back Gus Edwards had 198 rushing attempts for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns. His first carry of the game was for 15 yards. Everything looked like another day at the office for the Ravens offense. But he only had two carries the remainder of the game.
The Ravens did not play to their strengths.
At the highest levels, most games, contracts, sales presentations, and relationships are more lost than won.
Leaders, do you know why you and your organization are successful? If so, are you continually playing to your strengths?
Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark is a phenomenal basketball player and generational talent for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The impact of her playing career extends far beyond the court and she is reaping the financial benefits.
Sara Gotfredson, founder of the Trailblazing Sports Group, said in this article, “I think she just connects with her fan base. The story of her roots in Iowa, about her growing up and playing basketball since she was four – she just has this connection and this joy that she brings to the court. She seems to really enjoy playing for all these fans. You’ve seen those stories where she stayed until the last person (who wanted an autograph got one), when there was a line wrapped around whatever building she was in. There’s a sense of connection that fans feel with her, and I think that does separate female athletes from some male athletes. When athletes can find that genuine connection with fans, when they feel relatable to them off the field – that to me is the magic that happens, when you think about how to tap into that as a brand and as a partner.”
Following Caitlin’s example, are you as a leader doing the following:
- Enjoy serving those you influence?
- Something extra (like long autograph sessions) to expand your influence?
- Connecting and relating to those you influence?
For more on the leadership of Caitlin Clark, read 8 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Iowa’s Caitlin Clark On What A True Team Is.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are one of the teams I will be playing close attention to this year, but it is not because of what will be happening on the field. It will be because of what happens in the dugout and locker room.
The Athletic’s Chandler Rome wrote in this article about a potential challenge facing this year’s team. The Astros lost players Martin Maldonado and Hector Neris to other clubs, as well as Michael Brantley to retirement. These were three highly influential locker room leaders. They helped set the team’s culture.
Neris spent a great deal of time investing in prospects and other young Latino players. Maldonado became a team spokesman. During the team’s difficult stretches, he and Alex Bregman were the only veterans entrusted with talking with the media. Brantley would also led team meetings during the challenging 2023 season.
But the team is hopeful there will be a seamless leadership transition this season.
Astros manager Joe Espada said, “There will be other pillars stepping up. You know, that’s the way they’ve done it. They know when one of those guys leave, somebody’s got to step up and that organically will happen. We got guys in there that understand that they know that’s important to us to sustain our success.”
Leaders, if you have leaders exit your organization, have you developed the leadership pipeline necessary to replace them and seamlessly continue expanding your influence?
Los Angeles Clippers
In this article also from The Athletic, Marcus Thompson II and Shams Charania profiled the hottest team currently in the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers. The team had a 27-7 from November 17, 2023 to the time of the article. This represented the best record in the league during that stretch.
There are multiple reasons why but two main ones stick out. First, the team’s superstars (James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard) are playing at an elite level.
But the second reason is the team’s bench. Norman Powell, Terance Mann, and Russell Westbrook have provided scoring, defense, and whatever the team needs. Because of their efforts, Thompson and Charania wrote the team’s “success feels sustainable.”
Successful leaders know great teams have great depth. Does your organization have the depth in talent and leadership necessary for sustainable success?
Conclusion
The following are questions leaders need to constantly be asking regarding the expansion or contraction of their influence:
- Are you constantly looking for marginal gains, distressed assets others overlook, or creative opportunities like underwater plots of land to expand your influence?
- Do you know why you and your organization are successful? If so, are you continually playing to your strengths?
- Do you enjoy serving those you influence? Are you doing something extra (like long autograph sessions) to expand your influence? Are you connecting and relating to those you influence?
- Have you developed the leadership pipeline necessary to seamlessly continue expanding your influence if people leave your organization?
- Does your organization have the depth in talent and leadership necessary for sustainable success?
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