(tenth in a series titled Issues Managers Face in the Workplace)

New York’s own Giants won Super Bowl XLII. How did a team of regular guys get by the one team destined for greatness? The New England Patriots, one game away from an undefeated season and winners of three of the last six Super Bowls! The Giants last held the title in 1991. The Giants were 12 point underdogs going into this game. And then the week-long pre-Bowl festivities were over, the fans in the stands, and the game began…

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“I think we just had a great will on this team, just a great group of guys. There was something special about this group. We were determined and we had great faith in ourselves. We had leaders across the board in every aspect. Everybody knew their role and their responsibility. No matter what we’ve been through, I think it’s helped that a lot of the players have been together for the last three or four years. We’ve just learned to deal with adversity and learned how to overcome mistakes, a bad play or a disappointment, and put it behind us and forget about it. We just had total faith and confidence that no matter what is thrown at us, we can handle it and we can overcome it.”

- Giants Quarterback Eli Manning (from Giants site)

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Big plays

Making big plays is part of winning in business or anywhere else. Anticipating and preparing for big plays allows one to execute them when necessary. Should you build your team so you only reach your department/organization goals with big plays? Of course not. But be prepared when your team is called to step up and deliver…big.

Consistent Defense

The Giants’ defensive team did not play a perfect game. They played a consistent game. Not predictable, but dependable. That is where your team can learn to deliver each day. Not perfectly, not predictably – dependably. Efficient and effective.

Never Give Up

You are competing every day. For resources, budget dollars, revenue, and clients. Really, for your very job. Many cliches come to mind. Facing adversity together as a team builds character, resiliency, and faith. Reality is, it really isn’t over until the end. Never.
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Want more on never giving up? For a football themed book, try the biography “When Pride Still Mattered – A Life of Vince Lombardi” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Maraniss.

Joe Raasch :: Feb.19.2008 :: Employee Engagement, Innovation, Leadership, Performance Management :: 4 Comments »