Good leadership creates a winning culture no matter who calls the plays
John P. Wise
Director of Digital Media at WSYX-TV, passionate about coaching young people and helping them grow their careers
I read a great article about Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr a few years ago, and I couldn't help but think about it several times while watching my Cleveland Browns play the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL playoff game Sunday night.
Entering the game, one team was without its head coach, several assistant coaches, two defensive starters, a starting offensive lineman and a few other players, mostly because of COVID restrictions.
The team missing all those people was the clear underdog, a playoff party crasher, one of the league's worst franchises over the last 50 years.
Yet the Cleveland Browns pounced early and often, racing to a 28-0 lead and holding on for a 48-37 win on the home field of its division rival, one of the best teams in NFL history. The Browns surprised most people with the win; they surprised everyone with how they did it.
The article about Kerr, which I can no longer find, was written several years ago as the NBA's best team was stacking wins without its leader, who was sidelined with health issues.
When a great coach is unable to lead his team in person, most would assume the team will struggle. Not the Warriors. They would win three NBA championships over four years, including one season when they won a league-record 73 games. And they did it all while Kerr took multiple medical leaves and underwent two back surgeries, and if I'm not mistaken, battled other health problems.
The point of the article was to illustrate how Kerr's absence revealed what a winning culture looks like. Instead of wondering what to do without their leader, the assistant coaches stepped up, and the players stuck to their roles and carried out their assignments. Maybe the guy diagramming plays during timeouts didn't look like Kerr, but the system, the culture, the environment got them through.
And that's what the Browns did Sunday night in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have dominated the rivalry with Cleveland for decades, and last night's wild-card game figured to be another easy Pittsburgh triumph.
But for some reason, in one game, on one night, against all odds, Cleveland overcame heavy personnel shortages and earned the team's first playoff win in more than 25 years. It wasn't just because this guy played great or that guy played great or so-and-so called a great game. It's because there's a new culture in Cleveland, thanks to rookie head coach Kevin Stefanski.
As a Browns fan, I'm obviously excited for next week's playoff game at Kansas City. And as a student of leadership, I can't wait to see what Stefanski builds in Cleveland in the future.
Positioning, brand strategy & messaging consultant | Fractional CMO/CSO | Workshop facilitator | Freelance coach & creator
3 年John, I trust you're familiar with Jim Collins' five levels of leadership? At level 4, good things are happening, but they're often tied to a cult of personality. At level 5, the leader is preparing the organization to run without him or her, as Steve Kerr has. Last night's game is one data point, but throughout the season, our Browns have handled various kinds of adversity, and they seem to have embraced the "next man up" rule. I feel better about the direction of the Browns organization than I have in decades, and not just because they're winning.