Congratulations Eagles for playing an amazing game. Special thanks to Toyota for using their Super Bowl LII commercial as a platform to underscore the importance of hope, motivation and leadership. Toyota’s slogan “when we are free to move, anything is possible” was a beautiful story of Mrs. Lauren Woolstencroft’s journey to success.
Mrs. Woolstencroft was born without an arm and without both legs below the knee. With her chances of winning a Paralympic gold metal at a staggering billion (yes, with a B) to one, Ms. Wollstencroft beat the odds. She not only won a gold metal, but 8 gold medals! This is a true testament to dedication, perseverance, and having the ability to move freely. Despite her disability, she proved that “anything is possible”…and so did our “losers”, now proudly known as our “best dogs”.
The gameplay, stories and atmosphere were not only exciting but also informative. There were a lot of strong leadership lessons for all of us to learn and this. This became very apparent when I scrolled through social media. As I looked at others’ posts and thoughts on the game, I also noticed a few posts sprinkled into the news about people feeling marginalized in the workplace. I thought of the commonly mentioned quote “hire smart people and then get out of their way”, which has been referred to by several well-known leaders in a variety of industries. They advise that this is the key to strong leadership. I thought of how many leaders allow their teams to roam freely, like Coach Doug does.
From quotes to passive statements to full articles, clearly, people want to be able to “roam free” in their role. Having the ability to move freely brings a sense of purpose and meaning to everyday responsibilities. The phrase “move freely” really resonates with the Eagles jingle “Fly Eagles Fly.” I trust that the Eagles team, leaders and fans felt free to move to make the impossible possible. Do you agree?
While watching Super Bowl LII, 4 key leadership themes emerged that can help leaders foster an environment where staff feel free to roam. These themes include teamwork, forgiveness, compromise, and empathy. First, the Eagles demonstrated teamwork through team dinners, no cell phone use during certain moments and their continued resiliency and persistence, despite being called the underdog or losing Wentz, their starting quarterback. . As a team, they embraced the underdog slogan and believed in their backup quarterback, Nick Fowles (who, I might add, was the Super Bowl MVP). Despite many skeptics, the Eagles team and family believed in themselves. Forgiveness was shown when plays or passes didn’t go as planned. The players and coaches continued to be positive and moving forward. Did you notice how the Eagles coaches and players didn’t blame people?
Without a doubt, there was a huge amount of engagement between fans, players, management, and the community at large. The compromise fueled energy on the field. Everyone felt like they had something at stake and the energy was contagious. The commitment was powerful. Finally, empathy was shown through handshakes and special moments shared with the Patriots after the Eagles won the game. The Eagles took the time to show good sportsmanship by sharing positive feelings about the strength of both teams. This helps both teams feel respected and valued.
Coach Peterson, like many successful leaders, practices these themes in his daily roles and responsibilities. They empower their teams to move freely by adopting the following behaviors:
Use positive reinforcement (5 positive feelings for each constructive one)
Ask for (and accept) honest feedback
Approach situations with curiosity instead of certainty.
Put yourself in the shoes of others (practice empathy)
Adding these behaviors to your leadership toolbox decreases blame and vulnerability and promotes teamwork, forgiveness, compromise, and empathy. It is important to always use open-ended questions and ask your team to share their perspectives and recommendations for improvement. Even if you think you’re allowing your team to roam freely, it only takes a moment to request validation. Anything is possible when we take the time to make it possible.
How do you encourage your team to spread their wings and fly? Fly like an eagle!
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