but it feels forced or hollow . They don ’ t know the ins and outs of their new environment , and they certainly don ’ t know the needs and motivations of their team . Taking the time to learn and perform before you lead earns you respect and shows that you don ’ t expect influence to be handed to you as a matter of course .
It would be easy to assume that Manning is a born leader , and to a certain extent , he is . But that doesn ’ t mean that he hasn ’ t honed and refined his skills over the years . “ People who cultivate the influence to lead , they grow ,” he states . Cultivating this influence requires both excelling at your role and understanding how you can become a better leader to those around you . If Manning wasn ’ t a great quarterback , he wouldn ’ t be so accomplished as a leader . However , not all great quarterbacks are natural and confident in their leadership abilities . It ’ s when the two dovetail together that the real magic happens .
The Importance Of Being Prepared
If there ’ s a signature quality Manning is known for , it ’ s his obsessive attention to detail . The tales of his film study and football IQ are the stuff of legend . “ Preparation is where I felt I could get an edge on the competition ,” he reveals . “ I thought I could out-prepare anybody .” In treating practice as if it were the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl and in spending hours running through every possible scenario he might face on the field , Manning was able to remain calm and composed in moments that would overwhelm most of us .
He remembers his dad , Archie , sharing a quote from former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll with him at a very young age . “ Pressure is what you feel when you don ’ t know what you ’ re doing ,” Noll said . In the world of IT services , high-pressure moments are going to arise . When your clients need you to act quickly and decisively , you can ’ t buckle in the face of tough odds . It ’ s what you do day in and day out that will prepare you to handle these pressure-cooker moments .
Even one of Manning ’ s most famous skills , the way he made last-second audibles at the line of scrimmage to dissect a defense , is not as improvised as it may appear . “ Calling an audible , making a change in whatever it is you ’ re doing , comes down to dogged preparation ,” he asserts . “ Every audible I ever called , we practiced it ; we talked about it . Everybody ’ s got to be on the same page . We were prepared . Winging it is not a good idea in any field .”
Another easy example of this interplay between preparation and inspiration can be found in jazz music . Jazz is a famously improvised genre of music . Many of the music ’ s most iconic moments were not sketched out on sheet paper but instead came about when the bands were interacting organically in the moment . But this is only possible through a rock-solid understanding of fundamentals . Otherwise , it would be impossible for bandmates to intuit where a soloist is heading and follow them to the heights of genius .
It ’ s not hard to see how the value of preparation extends beyond the gridiron or the studio . In business , innovation and creativity can lead to great accomplishments . However , you don ’ t just wake up
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