Shuffling Leadership Leaves Room for Growth and Success
Bill Clinton once said, “The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change.” At the time, he was speaking about his actions as President of the United States. However, Clinton’s words ring true in many professions. Although changing leadership may be stressful, it can actually provide more room for your organization to grow.
As the football season comes to a close, many teams will see a shuffle in coaches and players. Usually, this is looked upon as a negative thing because many players, and fans, become attached to their coaches and accustomed to their way of doing things. However, shuffling coaches and leadership introduces new creative energy into an organization’s environment and can actually lead to success for the team in the long run.
In my recent blog post, I talked about Chicago Cubs coach Joe Maddon [link to that blog], his positive energy, and how it impacted the Cubs upon his acceptance of his leadership role. Maddon’s new energy and approach led the team to the World Series for the first time in 108 years. This same idea transfers to any sports team or leadership position.
Consider Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. He took the position of head coach with the team in 2007. “I think regardless of who they hire to be head coach they expect him to lead, and part of leading is being prepared to do things that you feel strongly about,” during the interview process with the Steelers. When he was hired, he became the third head coach the team has had since 1969.
When Tomlin, 34 at the time, became the Steelers’ head coach, many people thought he might drastically change the team’s defense. The team has excelled with the changes he’s made. There was, and is, something different about Tomlin that helps him click with his team.
One year later, in 2008, he became the youngest coach to lead a team to the Super Bowl, making history. Since then, he’s led the Steelers to two additional Super Bowls and countless victories. Throughout the years, he has always kept a winner’s mindset, and his energy has continued to help the Steelers succeed.
“I think football is a tough-man’s game, it’s an attrition game,” Tomlin said in 2007 when he signed with the Steelers. “You win by stopping the run and being able to run the ball effectively — and doing the things winners do — being a detailed-oriented football team, playing with great passion and executing.”
There are a number of rumors about what coaches will be swapped this year. Some of the top picks for coaching shuffles include New England Patriots’, Matt Patricia. Even though the team landed a spot in the Super Bowl this year, other teams are looking at Patricia to potentially bring new, winning energy to their coaching staff.
Another fantastic example of how shuffling leadership can lead to fresh, new energy and success is Delta Airlines. Ed Bastian became the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Delta Airlines in May 2016. Since then, the company has grown and it is continuing to change with the market’s needs, thanks to the flexibility and creative energy of Bastian.
He has been with Delta since 1998, minus a six-month stint at Acuity Brands, so there is no doubt he knows what he’s doing. However, Bastian’s energy and the way he leads the company is what truly leads to Delta’s overall success. The most recent change the company has made is an attempt to make international travel more affordable, and essentially make Delta more competitive with cheaper transatlantic airline carriers.
Adding new, creative energy into the mix can make a huge difference. For the Steelers, it meant two Super Bowl appearances in two years. For the Cubs, introducing Maddon’s new energy meant winning the World Series. For some companies like Delta, introducing new energy and ideas keep the company competitive.
Consider what your organization has to gain from introducing new creative energy. Allow me to help you bring that winning energy into your daily routine, team, or office. Schedule an exploratory call with me today!