Leadership and Tebow Time...for the last time...at least for now...
This should be my last Leadership and... post about Tim Tebow (TT) for a while. His football season is now over, but it's never really over until we wrap it up and put a orange and blue ribbon on it with an uplifting blog post about his season.I feel it is important, as leaders, for us to look at TT the person as opposed to TT the quarterback. Whether you like him or hate him, the fact is he has many leadership skills that many of us, including myself, are lacking..both at home and in the workplace.
To prevent this from being a novella, I narrowed our TT leadership lessons down to three.
...and as a reminder, in the spirit of full disclosure, I am a graduate of the University of Florida. I may have a tinge of bias, but I will try to keep it real (as the kids say).
The three TT lessons that we, as leaders, need to work on are consistency, humility, and encouragement.
1. Consistency
Remember we are talking about leadership skills, not football skills. TT was very inconsistent at times on the field. However, his life is one big ball of consistency. He acts the same around his family that he does around his teammates. He talks the talk about Jesus Christ, and he tries to walk the walk.
Since college, he has been asked about his dating life, his family life, his mission work, his virginity, his football ability and more. Yet his answers are always worded professionally, his responses are always friendly, and his demeanor (even when asked the stupidest of questions) is always upbeat and positive.
As a leader, how consistent are you? Can you showcase your consistent leadership values at all times?
2. Humility
My wife Sherri was not a TT fan when he played at Florida. She did not like all the attention he received.
"It's always TT this and TT that - it's never the other players. I'm sure he does it all by himself."
I tried to tell her that he does not do any marketing, recruiting or stories on his own. If the media decided to pick him out and make him a superstar, that was beyond his control.
After watching the Broncos this year, she has come full circle. Most of it is due to his humble responses in the press conferences.
It's never "me" - it's always "we".
It's never "Tebow Time" - it's always "Broncos Time."
It's never "build myself up" - it's always "build my TEAM up."
She is now a big fan...and why shouldn't she be?
As a leader, how humble are you? Are you a "me" leader or a "we" leader?
3. Encouragement
Before every game, TT chooses a make-a-wish child to encourage. He greets them, talks with them, and then spends time with them after each game...
...win or lose.
He encourages his team. He was seen on the bench and in the huddle in a constant state of encouragement.
Players dropped passes. Children has multiple surgeries. TT still makes time to encourage others.
As a leader, do you encourage your employees - on your good days as well as your bad days?
I don't know how TT will fare as a quarterback next year. But I do know that his example of leadership will continue to inspire all of us - as the video below shows us.
Click this link HERE to see Tim Tebow's pre-game routine.
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