The following are 5 Things Leaders Should Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving Season:
1. The Power of Gratefulness
During the second period of their November 14th game against the Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid became the fourth fastest and fourth youngest player to reach 1,000 NHL points.
Afterwards, Connor said in this article, “Some of these things have hit me with a little more emotion than I would have thought. You spend your whole life playing hockey and loving the game. I just wanted to play and make the NHL. A thousand points later – I’ve been doing it for 10 years now – it’s pretty special. You take it for granted sometimes. These moments give you a chance to look back and be grateful.”
Successful leaders should be grateful leaders.
The following are four additional items leaders should be grateful for this Thanksgiving weekend.
2. Never Confuse Ability With A Desire To Compete
Coach Keith Madison recently said during an online Bible study he and I attend, “On practically every team there are players who choose to sit on the bench or in the dugout. They have the ability to contribute, but they don’t desire to compete. They enjoy being on the team and wearing the uniform, but are content to watch others earn the wins, suffer the losses and the bruises.”
From his words, we learn a very important leadership lesson. Never confuse ability with the desire to compete.
Leaders should be grateful for those on their team who have a desire to compete.
3. Practice (Good or Bad) Becomes A Habit
Cristiano Ronaldo practices specific breathing techniques. He explained why in this article saying, “Because it makes you calm. When I do it, it controls my heart rate and makes my heart rate come down. It’s something that I practice and build into my routine.”
He then adds, “It is something that I always do in training, not just in games — because it is a habit. When you keep doing things the same, it becomes a habit, and that’s why I look to control my breathing every time.”
Practice always becomes a habit.
Leaders should be thankful for team members with excellent practice habits.
4. Transformational Leadership
Before the beginning of this year’s baseball season, Los Angeles Dodgers all-star and former Most Valuable Player Mookie Betts raised his personal goals to an even higher level. He said in this article that he wants to become “a legend in the game.”
So how will he go about this?
He said, “I want to be great. When I’m done, I want you to remember not necessarily just the baseball player, but Mookie. I want to be a legend in the game… How I create that, I have no idea. I’m just kind of going about it and bringing smiles to people’s faces when I can, trying to sign some autographs when I can, be the best player I can be when I’m playing, be the best teammate I can be. Whatever comes my way, I’m just going to try and be the best at it no matter what.”
Betts elaborated, “I think if I can do that, I feel like that will create some type of legacy that I can leave. You won’t remember all the on-field stuff, but I want people to remember who Mookie was off the field for sure.”
You create a legacy by not only what you do on the field, but off it as well.
Leaders should be thankful for team members who have a positive impact on their teammates.
5. How To Properly Judge The Success Of Those On Your Team
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said of his quarterback Carson Beck in this article, “You know, he gets judged on outcomes and stats, but we don’t judge based on that. We judge based internally on what gives us the best chance to win.”
Coach Smart teaches us to judge people on the process that leads to success, more than on the success itself.
Leaders should be thankful for those on their team who deliver daily, sustained excellence.
Resource for Becoming a Transformational Leader
Next week on December 2nd my new book releases. Here’s a synopsis: Some leaders are easily forgotten, others leave a lasting legacy. Some leaders do things by default, others by design. Some leaders want silver bullets, others build systems. The Games Leaders Play is a powerful resource which gives you the tools and resources needed to succeed in today’s world. Containing numerous stories and anecdotes, I will teach you the leadership principles needed to make a positive difference in the lives of others. You will be inspired and better equipped to lead others as you turn each page. A discussion guide is included so you can go through this book with your team. Whether you lead a church, athletic organization, business, or non-profit, The Games Leaders Play is the resource you have been looking for. Some leaders keep doing the same, others are playing a different game. It’s time to go to the next level!
