10 Things Leaders Should Be Thinking

Leaders are readers.  They are continual learners and have a thirst for knowledge.  Leaders know what makes you successful today will not keep you successful tomorrow.  They must keep growing.  Successful leaders are always in the humble posture of a learner.
One of the things I enjoy reading the most is Sports Illustrated.  With writers like Tom Verducci, Lee Jenkins and Peter King, they provide absolutely incredible content.  And just in case you are wondering, when you subscribe you can forego the swimsuit edition for an extra copy on the backend.  I’m just saying…
Periodically, several issues pile up and my wife has decided, actually mandated, it is time for them to go.  When this happens, I do a leadership flush.  A leadership flush is simply taking the best leadership principles from the soon-to-be discarded magazines and passing those insights along to you.
Therefore, the following are 10 Things Leaders Should Be Thinking I gleaned from previous copies of Sports Illustrated:
February 8th

• Leaders Should Not Be Thinking About Reinventing The Wheel – “That’s what good coaches do.  Let’s face it, nobody is inventing anything new anymore.  We just beg, borrow and steal – or regurgitate something.” – New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnoulo
• Leaders Should Be Thinking About Doing Things With Excellence – “We didn’t do anything special, we just did it really well.” – former Miami Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg

February 1st

• Leaders Should Be Thinking About Changing What No Longer Works – “As we got older some of our abilities leave us.  We can’t run as fast, can’t jump as far.  But we don’t forget what it is that we know how to do.” – Shannon Sharpe
• Leaders Should Be Thinking About Building Depth And A Strong Bench – “(There have) been a lot of different people stepping up at different times – starters, nonstarters becoming starters.  Everybody did their part.” – Peyton Manning
• Leaders Should Be Thinking About How To Leverage Failure – “In the end, everything I went through, it forced me to perfect my craft, made me a better player.  And it brought me here.” – Caroline Panthers safety Kurt Colemen after being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles
• Leaders Should Be Thinking More About Character Than Competency – “We got smart guys with unbelievable character.” – Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula

November 16th

• Leaders Should Be Thinking About What’s Next – “Am I happy where the program is?  You better believe it.  Very, very happy.  Am I satisfied?  Not even close.  I want to get to the top.  I want to be the best.  But I want to do it the right way and to enjoy the whole deal.” – Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney
• Leaders Should Think About Being Consistent – “The Coach Swinney y’all see is the Coach Swinney we see pretty much all the time.” – tailback Wayne Gallman
• Leaders Should Be Thinking About Delivering When It Matters Most – “Eddie George told me the Heisman ain’t won in October.  It’s won in November.” – Ohio State running back Ezekial Elliott
• Leaders Should Think About What It Really Means To Be A Leader – “I will not allow someone who is an excessive drinker to be a leader on this team.” – Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer

What are you thinking about?

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