8. (Look back) Recognize & acknowledge you didn’t get here by yourself – Sport gets the concept of “team” better than anywhere else. The focus is not on the individual; it is on the team. Successful business leaders understand that success comes from the team working together toward its goals. Many leaders do not acknowledge the contributions of others to their success. They will overly tout what they did and how they accomplished some task without giving others credit for their contribution. However, great leaders acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of others to team success. Newton has not only acknowledged the contributions of his teammates to his personal success and the team’s success, but he has also noted the role of his family, university, coaches, and trainers in helping him to succeed.
9. (Give back) Help others – There are many level of responsibility that business leaders and star players have which support the organization. Cam has demonstrated the best of what a leader can do by his actions on and off the field. Giving balls to little kids after touchdowns is priceless. Helping to create a phenomenon and getting your teammates to buy into it is a great example of leadership. In business, we talk about social responsibility and we measure it through all kinds of scorecards, but the true spirit of giving is not a scorecard – it is lives impacted. It isn’t just paying lip service – it is taking action for something you believe in, even when the spotlight isn’t shining on you.
10. Embrace (the controversy of) your choices – No one will be happy with every decision that you make. Whether it is about authenticity or a strategic business bet, make the best decision you can and move forward with haste. The goal is to win – not make everyone happy. Have values, own them, and stand up for what you believe in. People may not like it, but they will have to respect it and they will follow your lead as a result. Build your resilience to weather the storms coming your way. Hear it, be attuned to it, but don’t succumb to it or let it deter you from your path.
Lawrence James is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience in clinical and consulting settings. He is a Partner, at RHR International in their Chicago office. He specializes in working with C-suite executives in multinational corporations, family-owned businesses, and non-profits. Dr. James has a particular passion for growing the talent of African American executives and has penned the research study, Journey to the Top: Developing African American Executives.
10 Things Cam Newton Can Teach Executives About Leadership was originally published on blackdoctor.org
