On Sunday, February 25th, Liverpool and Chelsea were deadlocked 0-0 at the 118th minute of the Caraboa Cup final. Someone needed to make play so their team could hoist the Cup trophy.
What happened next teaches us a lot about leadership. Whether you are in athletics, business, ministry, or the non-profit world, what separates good leaders from great ones is the ability to execute under pressure. The leader must step up when the organization needs it the most.
Enter Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
With everyone mentally and physically spent, van Dijk scored a game-winning header. Click the image below to see the play and the jubilant reactions which ensued.
Afterwards, van Dijk said in the tweet below, “Ever since I was given the honor of wearing the (captain’s) armband for Liverpool, I have said that I am always proud to be captain of the team… This isn’t a feeling that increases or decreases depending on results, it is always there. I have to admit, though, that the sense of pride I have for the entire club right now is as strong as it could be… What happened at Wembley on Sunday was incredible. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. All the problems that we had before and during the game and we still found a way to win. We stayed together – on and off the pitch – and we found a way to win. This is Liverpool Football Club.”
5 Qualities of a Winning Leader
From van Dijk’s comments, we can glean five qualities of a winning leader:
- A Winning Leader Understands Leadership Is A Privilege – Yes, leadership is a privilege. The opportunity to mobilize people and resources to accomplish a significant task or assignment is something only a select few ever get to do. Therefore, it should never be taken for granted. Van Dijk said, “Ever since I was given the honor of wearing the (captain’s) armband for Liverpool, I have said that I am always proud to be captain of this team.”
- A Winning Leader Focus On The Process More Than The Results – This is one of the many things which separates amateurs from professionals. Van Dijk continued, “This isn’t a feeling that increases or decreases depending on the results.”
- A Winning Leader Executes Under Pressure – Winning leaders produce positive results when the organization needs it the most. Van Dijk noted, “What happened at Wembly on Sunday was incredible. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.”
- A Winning Leader Models Perseverance And Resilience – Many people enjoy the perks of leadership but few are willing to pay the price necessary for leadership. Van Dijk led his team during very difficult times. He recounted, “All the problems that we had before and during the game and we still found a way to win.”
- A Winning Leader Builds An Aligned And Unified Team – Dysfunctional teams are not winning teams. Winning leaders prioritize alignment and unity. Despite all the team’s challenges, van Dijk has helped the team stay together. He concluded, “We stayed together – on and off the pitch – and we found a way to win. The is Liverpool Football Club.”
Conclusion
If you understand leadership as a privilege, focus on the process more than the results, execute under pressure, model perseverance and resilience, and build a unified team, you too have an opportunity to be a winning leader.
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