and decide to innovate . You get there by working hard , understanding your industry , and identifying areas for improvement .
The Necessity Of Coaching
One of the oft-repeated platitudes about Manning is that he was like a head coach on the field , but he would beg to differ on that assessment . He relied on exceptional coaching throughout his career and never felt that he outgrew the need for guidance and mentorship . “ You always need to be coached ,” he states . “ Whatever level of success anyone has reached , you ’ re always going to hit a plateau , and we need a coach to unlock our full potential . I believe in mentoring and paying it forward , but I also believe that we shouldn ’ t think we have it all figured out .”
In Manning ’ s eyes , one of the greatest attributes a coach can possess is an understanding of their players . “ The best coaches I played for were adaptive in designing the offensive system ,” he says . “ The offensive system would be your corporate culture . Design plays that your team can do . Don ’ t put them in situations they ’ re not going to be successful in .” Trying to shoehorn a system onto your team , regardless of their natural tendencies and skill sets , will only lead to frustration and a perpetual clash of heads .
Similarly , Manning took the time to understand the role of his teammates in addition to his own . “ To be more agile , I need to learn everybody on my team ’ s assignments ,” he says . “ What I love about football is that everyone has a role to play . People have thankless jobs , but their role is just as important as the star running back .” Attaining success on an organizational level , not just an individual one , means taking a 360-degree view of your business . You may be the CEO , but you have to understand what will allow even your entry-level employees to flourish .
“ An old coach told me once ,” Manning remembers , “ that you either get better or you get worse every day . You don ’ t stay the same .” Seeking out mentors and coaches is one of the surest ways to get better . Coaching itself is something you learn from other coaches or mentors . Manning never would ’ ve been the football genius he is without the impact of each of his coaches . His advice to people in all fields and at all levels is simple and direct : “ Keep being coached . Keep being evaluated .”
The Values Of A Champion
What makes Manning ’ s insights resonate with anyone in any profession is that they have very little to do with the X ' s and O ' s of football . Sure , these technical details matter , but the real assets that made him a champion translate to any field . Ability , work ethic , passion , accountability , the cultivation of leadership , and the wisdom of mentors are helpful whether you ’ re a quarterback , doctor , lawyer , or CEO .
Finally , and perhaps most importantly , is the ever-present focus on your team . “ What I love about football ,” Manning says , “ is that it ’ s the ultimate team game .” We would argue that business is a team sport , as well . Nobody succeeds alone , and there ’ s no CEO in the world who can create a successful business through their own individual force of will . It takes a willingness to collaborate and a desire to motivate everyone on your team to achieve at the highest possible levels , especially when it comes to overcoming challenges . As Manning says , “ When you go through adversity , don ’ t try to do it alone .” n
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