Do you remember all of the pictures of the New Orleans Superdome when Hurricane Katrina came through? There were many people who wondered if the Saints would even ever come back to New Orleans…much less come back and reunite the city. The Saints not only came back, but they came back with a vengeance ready to give hope to the people of New Orleans as they were putting their lives back together. I really enjoyed reading How the Saints Went Kicking In and have pasted some thoughts below that I highlighted while reading.
- On February 7, 2010, the once-forsaken New Orleans Saints shocked the football world by upsetting the seemingly invincible Indianapolis Colts. Their improbable and gutsy Super Bowl XLIV win capped perhaps the greatest turnaround ever recorded in professional sports. Sean Payton, just four years into his first job as a head coach, showed himself a model for leaders everywhere.
- But where others saw futility, Payton saw opportunity.
- No matter how loudly fans might complain, Payton simply won’t tolerate selfishness, tardiness, or any other form of bad behavior. And he has no problem filling vacancies with unheralded players who exhibit better attitudes. That sends a clear message through the locker room that no player is more important than the team as a whole.
- Choose players and coaches wisely.
- Ask yourself: What have I done to foster leadership and capability in my organization? If you haven’t yet found the right people, rethink your priorities and look for candidates who exhibit the qualities you most value.
- Demand flawless execution.
- Sweat the details.
- Admit your mistakes—and learn from them.
- Take calculated risks.
- Do you shy away from taking chances? When was the last time you took a calculated risk? Did your gamble pay off? And if not, why? Would better preparation have changed the outcome?