There is no great successful organization without a good leader. This is especially true in the sports world, when you consider the vast body of evidence found throughout the history of the American National Football League, which is full of downfalls but also incredible comebacks and success stories. One such story is tightly associated with the Green Bay Packers in 1957.
The team was heading for a disaster and was about to be completely obsolete, with the worst record in their 39-year-long history. This was due to inefficient coaching and weak leadership skills presented by former coaches. However, there was a drastic change that came with the one and only, Vince Lombardi.
This man rejuvenated the team’s energy and spirit and lead the Packers to five NFL Championships during a seven-year period while also winning two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967. It is worth considering what made pro football hall of fame alumni Vince Lombardi such a brilliant leader. Here is an overview of his leadership genius.
Losing is not an option
Green Back Packers and Washington Redskins NFL coach Vincent Thomas Lombardi was a firm believer that winning was nothing but a habit. There were actionable steps one must take in order to win. This stems from the fact that he fully believed in his team’s capabilities and that if victory was possible once it sure will be possible again and again. He also recognized that just like winning, losing too can become a habit as well, because it can easily get into your subconsciousness.
Lombardi was a great leader as he knew how to coach his players that gave them supreme confidence in themselves, much like Bill Shankly at Liverpool who also built a winning mentality.
That is why he did not allow his players to be mentally aware of anything else other than winning. This is a really important point that many modern leadership courses recognize since this principle can be implemented into almost any organization or business. According to Vince Lombardi, running a football team was no different than running an army, a political party or a business. He fully understood and then embraced the natural instinct to compete and to be the very best, while also doing so fairly and squarely.
No matter what it takes
His underlying principle was that winning is absolutely always achievable. However, being such a magnificent leader and head coach as he was, he knew that those words had to be backed up by solid, gruelling action taking. In order to win, he needed to turn his team members into results-oriented machines.
This only meant one thing; pay the price it takes. His extreme win-lose philosophy also reflected commitment. Either you give your best work or you don’t. That is why his team went through some of the most rigorous practices, which allowed the team to reap astounding rewards.
Leadership is no one-way street
Lombardi knew that if he was going to be so demanding and push his team to their very limits, he needed to be completely dedicated to each individual member of his team as well. The players knew that Vince had their backs at all times. This adamantine loyalty is something that every good leader should be able to provide.
This requires careful monitoring of each individual member of your team. The same way Lombardi was able to be fully aware of his team’s needs and values and give back completely in return for their incredible efforts.
Own your role
Lombardi instilled in his players a great sense of what it means to truly strive for perfection. This required everyone to be on the same page, both physically and mentally. It also encouraged everyone to fully embrace their role and own it. This meant that to be the best at what you do in the team you needed to shoulder the maximum level of responsibility.
This simply created an environment where everyone needed to respect and comply with the team’s work ethic. Players who failed to do so were removed from the team. Transferable sports skills like these allow people to reach massive success no matter the industry.
Aim higher than you think is possible
Vince Lombardi was no stranger to the fact that absolute perfection was impossible. However, he fully believed if he and his team aimed for anything less than that, they would become mentally ensnared. He believed that if they aimed higher than anyone thought was possible, they would be more likely to achieve if not perfection, but excellence.
In effect, he was programming his team’s non-conscious portion of their brain to strive for massive success. That is why it is important for leaders to keep in mind that there is nothing more powerful than a changed mind.
In many ways, Vince Lombardi’s philosophy has not only greatly impacted the history of American football but it still continues to impact new leaders in the industry. By aiming high and adjusting the effort accordingly it is possible to achieve extraordinary results no matter the obstacles.
Who was Vince Lombardi?
Vincent Thomas Lombardi was born in Brooklyn, New York in June 11th 1913. He was inducted posthumously into the NFL’s Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 after his sudden death in 1970. In 9 seasons as head Coach of Green Bay Packers, Lombardi won 5 NFL Championships (including the first 2 Super Bowls in 66 and 67), and 6 conference titles. The NFL Super Bowl trophy is named in his honour.
Lomardi never had a losing season as head coach in the NFL, and was known for his visionary leadership and offensive thinking ahead of its time. For example he introduced rule blocking the NFL, which was basically zonal marking, and pushed his running backs to run into any holes which coined run to daylight!
He started his NFL career as offensive line coach for the New York Giants in 1954, before moving on to transform the Green Bay Packers in 1959. He resigned after winning Super Bowl II in 1968, and joined the Washington Redskins in 1969.
