John Maxwell famously said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Fewer statements have ever been more true. And we are seeing this play out with the 2024 Washington Commanders football team.
In 2023, the Commanders finished the season tied for the second-worst record in the NFL. They also finished with the league’s worst defense giving up 518 points.
New leadership was needed. The team added new general manager Adam Peters, a superstar rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, an excellent offensive coordinator in Kliff Kingsbury, and most importantly new head coach Dan Quinn. It is definitely a team effort but things are rising under the team’s new leader.
As of the time of this writing, the team leads the NFL East with a 6-2 record.
When Quinn was hired, Foxsports.com writer Ralph Vacchaino wrote an insightful profile on his leadership style. From his article, I gleaned six qualities of a leader who dramatically improves an organization.
6 Qualities of a Leader Who Dramatically Improves an Organization
1. A Leader Who Dramatically Improves an Organization is in High-Demand
Leaders who dramatically improve organizations most likely already have jobs.
An unnamed NFL general manager said, “There aren’t many better leaders in the coaching ranks than Dan Quinn. It’s why so many teams wanted to hire him over the last few years.”
This is because the 53-year-old Quinn was the defensive coordinator for Seattle’s Legion of Boom Super Bowl championship team, took the Atlanta Falcons to the 2017 Super Bowl, and also led the Dallas Cowboys defense which was ranked 28th in total yardage in 2021 to seventh and fifth in each of the last two years.
2. A Leader Who Dramatically Improves an Organization has High-Emotional Intelligence
Micah Parsons of the Cowboys said, “It doesn’t always have to be hard-nosed, ‘I’m the coach.’ It’s more of a friendship. He doesn’t just treat me like a player. He treats me like a friend. He’s always there when I need him and we’re not afraid to have those hard conversations whether it’s father to son or player to coach. We have them no matter what.”
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The following four lessons come from Peters’ thoughts on Quinn which he shared at his introductory press conference, “Leadership, great communication, being able to be honest, direct and upfront, have all those qualities, and they’re all intertwined. But those are the main qualities. You have to be very smart. You have to be very driven. There’s so many different qualities that make up a great head coach and a great leader, but really it’s just about being a great person, a great human being that people will follow.”
3. A Leader Who Dramatically Improves an Organization has Great Communication Skills
Quinn said, “Leadership, great communication, being able to be honest, direct and upfront, have all those qualities, and they’re all intertwined. But those are the main qualities.”
4. A Leader Who Dramatically Improves an Organization has High Intelligence
To improve an organization, you have to have the intelligence to know what the problems are and how to fix them.
5. A Leader Who Dramatically Improves an Organization Must be Driven
Passive leaders rarely reverse negative momentum. Intentional engagement is required.
6. A Leader Who Dramatically Improves an Organization has High Character
Peters concluded, “There’s so many different qualities that make up a great head coach and a great leader, but really it’s just about being a great person, a great human being that people will follow.”
Conclusion
If you wish to find a leader who can dramatically improve your organization, look for someone with the following qualities:
- They are in high-demand.
- High emotional-intelligence.
- Great communication skills.
- High intelligence.
- Driven
- High Character
If you can find this individual, hire them today and watch your organization’s fortunes begin to change.
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