7 Reasons Why Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed

7 Reasons Why Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed

How much is a great leader truly worth?  What is the impact on a church when it has a great pastor with the gift of leadership?  How successful can a business become with a strong point leader?  And what difference can a coach with superior competency and leadership skills make on a sports team?  The answer to all of these questions is it simply immeasurable.
Through the first five weeks of the NFL season, the New Orleans Saints are undefeated.  The return of head coach Sean Payton has obviously been dramatic.  Under his leadership, the Saints had a record of 62-34 from 2006-11.  Last year during his suspension, the team’s record slipped to 7-9.
In the September 16th edition of Sports Illustrated, Tim Layden looked at Payton’s impact on the team’s fast start.  As I read the article, I gleaned 7 Reasons Why Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed:

1. Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed Because They Give Others Confidence – Wide receiver Marques Colston attributes last year’s losing record to the absence of Payton.  He said simply, “We didn’t have our leader.”
2. Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed Because They Provide Clarity – After beating the Atlanta Falcons in Payton’s emotional first game back, Drew Brees said,”Everything else doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t win the game.”
3. Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed Because They Change Culture – Right tackle Zach Strief said, “Since Coach Payton came here, the culture changed around this franchise.  A 7-9 record was no longer acceptable around here.”
4. Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed Because They Point To A Brighter Tomorrow – Wide receiver Lance Moore stresses that upon Payton’s return he told the team, “The past is the past.”  Moore then added, “Last year was tough for everybody.  But he wanted us to put that behind us.”
5. Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed Because They Help Us Reach Our Potential - Payton immediately raised the work ethic and level of intensity on the Saints.  Strief said, “Back then (Payton’s arrival in 2006), Coach Payton was trying to get us to believe in being physical and outworking people.  Gradually, we had gotten away from that.  So we went back.”
6. Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed Because They Bring A Sense Of Urgency – Prior to the Falcons game, Payton said in his pre-game speech, “Don’t turn the ball over.  Hold on to it.  And if you’re holding the ball, you’re holding the hopes and dreams of the whole team.”
7. Great Leaders Are Desperately Needed Because They Bring A Proper Perspective – After Payton won his first game back from the suspension, many wanted to compare the game to winning the first game after Katrina.  Payton brought everyone back to reality.  He said, “Today, it got loud near the end.  In 2006 (after Katrina), that game was different.”

Confidence, Clarity, A Changing Culture, A Brighter Tomorrow, Urgency, Perspective and Met Potential.  These 7 Reasons Are Why Leaders Are So Desperately Needed.  If you provide these 7 things, you may just be a great leader yourself.  I hope you are.