Leadership Mic'd Up

Barbara Walters just finished wrapping up her 10 most fascinating people of 2011. However, Barbara, being Barabra, failed to really get some of the most interesting and fascinating people of 2011. She normally goes after glitz, glamour, and people in the news. So this year she failed miserably by not including the person of which the video below is about. He is the most talked about football player this year, and he really has not done too much, except win. His name is Tim Tebow. Now, I am not a Denver Broncos fan, nor will I ever be. I couldn't stand the Florida Gators, the university where Tebow played his college ball either. I appreciate Tim Tebow much more after watching the video below, and I have recently found myself "tebowing" on a few occasions lately. I appreciate the guy's zeal for life and his leadership that he portrays on the field and sideline. One can learn a lot about leadership from watching this video clip as Tim was mic'd for a recent game where he rallied the team to a fascinating come-from-behind win. Watch the clip and I'l break it down for you:



LEADERSHIP LESSONS

*You can make an impact in someone's life, by taking a few minutes of your time to talk to them.

*Leaders should be able to bounce back from adversity.

*Positivity is important in rallying people around you.

*Respect is a leadership commodity that more leaders should have.

*Composure is something every leader should have in their arsenal of skills.

*Encouragement goes a long way.

*Attitude determines altitude.

*When you believe in people and show you care, that impact lasts forever.

I have had the opportunity to be around excellent leaders. Each time I am with one, I try and take something away and implement it in my life. Being intentional about leadership helps one grow. That is my desire every opportunity I get.

LEADERSHIP Lessons Learned from Ball Hogs

I am 35 years old and I have been playing on organized teams since I was 6. I remember most teams really well, especially from 5th grade on. I played on some great teams over that 29 year span-some only lost as many as 1 game a season, other times we lost more than we won. On each team there were teammates/players that were looked upon as great team players, and on every team there were BALL HOGS. I have been friends with every teammate I ever had, on every team I have ever played-yes, even the ball hogs. Some are still great friends today. This is not just limited to sports-this spans teams I've been on from classes, councils, projects, community & church related teams, and all team environments I've found myself on over the past 29 years. I will admit right off the bat, on some of those teams- I WAS THE BALL HOG. You can learn a lot about leadership from a BALL HOG.
Here are some characteristics and observations of BALL HOGS (below you will find how you can learn from them):

• BALL HOGS are the teammates that feel like they have to make every play, decision-bad or good, call the shots (even if a coach is in play).
• Simply put-playing with ball hogs is not real fun.
• Most ball hogs are despised by some portion of the team.
• BALL HOGS sometimes carry a persona that they are the best one on the team-sometimes when they make the assumption, more often than not(at least my experiences)they make it with an ego trip attached.
• BALL HOGS are territorial, & want the ball in their hands all the time.
• When new teammates come to the team, they are normally threatened-this is out of fear of not being the MAN(or WOMAN)-85% of the time.
• BALL HOGS also scoff at the idea that someone else could or may challenge them for ideas, talent, ability, and betterment of the team.
• Some BALL HOGS are unaware they are actually BALL HOGS.
• BALL HOGS can limit the growth of others.
• BALL HOGS are selfish, and lack team mentality.
• Under pressure BALL HOGS can lose control and get sloppy.
• No one likes a ball hog!

LEADERSHIP LESSONS LEARNED:

• Getting team involves is way more fun and even more special if the team is victorious!
• Sometimes fresh teammates will push the team to new heights.
• Ball Hogs can learn how to play team ball from teammates.
• The best teammates are the ones who know when another teammate needs an opportunity to get in the game.
• If a BALL HOG ever challenges a coach publicly or privately, the coach should remove them from the team, or find a place where they can learn to play with others-which is normally back on the playground.
• BALL HOGS need leadership fed into them as much as the rest of us do!
• BALL HOGS need to remember there will always be younger, fresher, and different ideas/thoughts/people, and game plans that will shift paradigms.
• When the ball is someone else's hand it is important to be an encouragement.
• When the game/decision/plan is all on the line, the team approach is better than the "I" or "ME" approach.
• TEAMS when games, not BALL HOGS- even the greatest team champions had help-just ask MJ.

So, look at the teams you are currently on. Can you identify the BALL HOGS? Maybe they can identify you. This is for sure-ball hog or not-teams have a better chance of winning or succeeding than a single all star who takes on everything.

Here is the ACTION PLAN for you: Look at the teams you are on. Do you need to step up, pass, take a shot, bring in a sub to give you a rest, tell the coach you need to learn, or ask for a trade from the current team you are on?

Take it from a former BALL HOG- what ever you need to do-there is always teams looking for help, and there are always a short supply of great help needed.

The most important thing you can take away from BALL HOGS- they want to be in the game, and they want the ball in their hands. So should YOU!