Hard decisions are simply part of the leadership journey. I once had a leader tell me how easy hard decisions came for him. I responded by saying if those decisions were easy, then by sheer definition they were not hard. Hard decisions are never easy.
Recently, the Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney made the hard decision by replacing starting quarterback Kelly Bryant with freshman phenom Trevor Lawrence. What made the decision so hard was the quality of person Bryant was and the fact he led them to the college football play-offs last year.
After hearing the news, Bryant released a statement saying he was transferring and would play elsewhere next year. Afterwards, Coach Swinney was interviewed by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
The following are 20 Leadership Lessons About Making Hard Decisions we learn from their conversation shown above. All quotes are from Coach Swinney.
- Decisions Are Even Harder When Involving High-Profile Positions – “It’s a huge decision because it’s the quarterback.”
- Not Everyone Will Agree With Your Hard Decision – “He (Kelly Bryant) didn’t like the decision and decided to move on and that’s his right.”
- Smart Leaders Support Those Affected By Their Hard Decisions – “We wished he would have stayed but support him in his decision”
- Smart Leaders Appreciate And Thank Those Affected By Their Hard Decisions – “and thank him for everything he’s done here.”
- Leaders Continually Have To Make Hard Decisions – “But as a coach sometimes you have to make some tough decisions along the way.”
- Hard Decisions Are Never Simple – “It’s not that simple.”
- Hard Decisions Are First Evaluated Then Followed By What Is Best For Company Success – “As coaches we have to evaluate and make critical decisions that we think give us the best chance to be successful.”
- Hard Decisions Are Always Followed By Criticism – “When you make decisions there’s always going to be criticisms.”
- A Person’s Opportunity Is Determined By Their Skill – “Trevor Lawrence has earned this opportunity.”
- Last Year’s Hard Decisions Do Not Guarantee This Year’s Success – “Last year’s great but it’s all about this year.”
- The Right To Lead And Make Hard Decisions Has To Continually Be Earned Over And Over Again – “Everybody has to earn it all over again.”
- Hard Decisions Are A Leader’s Job – “That’s my job to make tough decisions along the way.”
- Sometimes Your Hard Decisions Are Right And Sometimes Wrong – “Sometimes I’m right and sometimes I’m wrong.”
- Make Hard Decisions Based Upon A Person’s Demeanor – “His demeanor.”
- Make Hard Decisions Based Upon How Well A Person Prepares – “His love of preparation.”
- Make Hard Decisions Based Upon A Person’s Poise – “His poise.”
- Make Hard Decisions Based Upon A Person’s Gifts And Abilities – “His natural instincts.”
- Make Hard Decisions Based Upon A Person’s Talent – “He’s got elite are talent.”
- A Person’s Talent Makes Hard Decisions Easier – “It’s not the norm but sometimes you have guys show up as freshman and they’re the best player on the field.”
- Hard Decisions Are Easier When You Focus On Only What You Can Control – “I’m just worried about beating Syracuse… As a football coach that’s all you can worry about… We can only control what we can control.”
I would like to give my thought’s on Bryant’s decision to transfer. As Coach Swinney said, Bryant has the right to make his own decision. However, like everyone, he does not get to choose the consequences of his decision. Those are left to someone else. If I were advising Bryant, I would tell him to consider the next 50 years, not just the next two years.
The Clemson (SC) community, along with the surrounding towns of Anderson, Easley, Greenville, and others, is very tight-knit. The area is the picture of Southern hospitality. Everyone seemingly knows each other. Everyone takes care of their own. The local church is the cultural epicenter. It is the type of place you want to live and raise a family.
Bryant does not have the talent to be a NFL quarterback. He could potentially play in the CFL for a few years where the annual salary is $50,000. If he would stay at Clemson, sacrifice for his team, and put the success of the program and university ahead of his personal agenda, he would become an icon in the area. He would have a job with someone in the area until the day he retired. Bryant has forfeited this long-term opportunity.
But he has the right to make that decision. My advice would be to return to team if the opportunity is there.
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