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Leadership Lessons From The Super Bowl!

We absolutely love this week's MMM, it comes to us from Ted Simon. If you watched the big game you saw the underdog Philadelphia Eagles execute a brilliant game plan to perfection. Let's look at the lessons we can learn and apply to our lives personally and professionally.

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As the Eagles walked off the field following their stunning upset and the city of Philadelphia began their week of celebrating their first Super Bowl championship, I couldn’t help but muse over how they had achieved this monumental success. How did they pull off this huge upset, with a quarterback who was a backup until a few weeks ago, against their heavily favored opponent and arguably the greatest QB to ever play the game?

It occurred to me that the key was Doug Pederson, the Eagles Head Coach. Pederson demonstrated some exemplary leadership skills that apply to any manager or leader and his/her team. Here are five things I took away from his efforts that contributed to his team’s stunning victory.

1. Prepare your team

It all starts with a plan. The Eagles had a terrific game plan for attacking the Patriots’ defense, mixing their established strengths with insightful new plays that emphasized the pass over the Eagles’ usual “run first” approach and attacking perceived weaknesses and opportunities presented by this specific opponent. That plan was clearly communicated to the entire organization – coaches and players were drilled and trained to be on the same page. Pederson also exuded confidence and imparted that confidence to his staff and the players. They stepped onto the field fully believing they would win. When kick-off time arrived, they were prepared and ready to execute the game plan.

Lesson learned: If you properly prepare yourself for the moment you put yourself, and your team, in a position to succeed.

2. Understand and Empower your Team

Sports demonstrate the ultimate managerial challenge. While leaders can develop a great game plan, it’s up to the players (employees) to absorb and internalize that plan, then execute it. Pederson and his coaching staff demonstrated a keen understanding of each players’ key strengths, particularly how they stacked up against this opponent, and they put each player in a position to apply their skills and succeed. Then, he let them execute, which they did throughout a hard-fought, challenging game.

Lesson learned: Take the time to truly understand individual strengths, put them in the best position to succeed, then give them the rope to do just that. It's amazing what they can accomplish.

3. Be Willing to Take Risks and Accept Responsibility

Throughout the game, the Eagles continuously took risks that paid off for them. The now famous “Philly Special” at the goal line at the end of the first half (more on this in a moment), going for a first down at midfield with fourth-and-five-yards to go rather than punt…examples of a team, and leader, confident and prepared to take the risk against a powerful opponent, and willing to accept the consequences if their risky play failed. But, with a “success-focused” mindset they chose to go for the win…and did. Here’s what team leader, Eagles tight end Brett Celek, had to say about Petersen after the game.

“Coach Pederson is unbelievable. The play calling, man. I think he showed that all season, and tonight he just let loose … That's been Doug all year, and that is Doug. He's a heck of a play caller. He's going to keep you off-balance, and he did that tonight."

Lesson learned: Know when risks are worth taking and approach the moment with a mindset that you will succeed.

4. Listen to and Trust Your Team

In one of the greatest plays in the history of the Super Bowl, the Eagles opted for a newly installed trick play to score a touchdown near the end of the first half, eschewing an easy field to go for the big score. Quarterback Nick Foles was wide open to receive the “Philly Special” pass (the first pass catch of his career) from his tight end (who had never thrown a pass in the NFL) who had received the ball from running back Corey Clement (a rookie), who had taken the direct snap after Foles moved himself away from the center at the beginning of the play.

This was a play that the staff had conceived just prior to the Super Bowl – they had never run it before other than a handful of times in practice. It was Foles who suggested this idea to Pederson, who quickly agreed, showing faith and confidence that his quarterback on the field had a good “feel” for what would work in this crucial moment. It totally surprised the Patriots (and over 100 million people who were watching the game). That’s listening and trusting your team, and it was a critical factor in Philadelphia’s victory.

Lesson learned: No one person has all the answers, so be open-minded; trust and listen to your team.

5. Be Yourself

As Shakespeare said, "To thine own self be true." When Doug Pederson was hired as the Head Coach of the Eagles, there were many media pundits who called it one of the worst coaching hires of the year. This was a man who had been a backup QB during his career in the NFL, and only ten years earlier was a high school football coach. Pederson had his plan, his approach and he had faith in himself and his team. Most of all, he was himself – a genuine guy, a straight-shooter, a risk taker who instilled excitement, trust and belief in his players. Here’s what Coach Pederson told ESPN after the game:  

" I trust my players, I trust my coaches and I trust my instincts," Pederson said. "I trust everything I'm doing, and I want to maintain that aggressiveness. In games like this, against a great opponent, you have to make those tough decisions that way and keep yourself aggressive."

Lesson learned: Don't try to be what others say you should be. People can tell if you are faking it. Being genuine and true to yourself puts you in position to lead naturally, and let the chips fall where they may.

There is nothing magical or surprising in Pederson’s leadership approach. The key: he applied the theory on the most important and critical stage, the pinnacle of his sport. The rest is now Super Bowl history.

Even if one doesn’t suit up on Sundays, these leadership lessons and practices can apply Monday through Friday at the office as well. Maybe we can all learn from this and make our own history.

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Have a great week unless you choose otherwise.

Drago

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