Former NFL quarterback who is now a broadcast announcer shares career stories.
As the NFL season kicks off, with retired quarterback Tom Brady making his debut as a regular football commentator, the player known as the GOAT (greatest of all time) explains in a recent article how he motivated himself and his fellow players. Even without a formal role and title such as CEO, team members can have just as much leadership influence on outcomes by the tone they set.
That’s because leaders do not accomplish anything by themselves, according to the article in the Harvard Business Review, written by Brady along with Nitin Nohria. “To do great things, we rely on teammates,” the article read. “And to win, team leaders must find ways to draw the best physical, mental, and emotional performance from the players working with them.”
Rather than his skill at throwing the ball accurately and calling plays as quarterback, Brady’s longtime success in his NFL career with the New England Patriots and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came from how he helped the people around him perform better, the article said. He worked with longtime Patriots fan and leadership educator Nitin, former dean of the Harvard Business School, to outline seven behaviors that can be applied in any organization to spur teams to higher levels.
The behaviors, which the article showcases in Brady’s words and anecdotes, emphasize a team-first philosophy. They include:
- Put the team first, always, even when facing personal adversity.
- Show appreciation for unsung colleagues.
- Set the standard and create a culture of 100% effort.
- Recognize teammates’ individual psychology and the best ways to motivate them.
- Understand and complement the style of the formal leader.
- Recognize and counteract the external forces that can cause selfish behavior.
- Create opportunities to connect as people outside the workplace.