If you didn’t already know, Management Solutions is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. Knoxville is also the home of the University of Tennessee and in the Fall, that means the home of some fantastic SEC (Southeastern Conference) football match-ups.
One of those much anticipated, key games occurred this past Saturday at the infamous Neyland Stadium as the Tennessee Volunteers hosted the crimson tide of the University of Alabama. The much-anticipated game surpassed all the pregame hype, as the nail-biter ended in Tennessee winning with a last second field goal, 52-49.
Of course, as you would expect both teams now say this game was one for the ages. The day after the game, Sunday, CBS announced it was the most watched event of decades with viewership greater than 17M.
As I was overjoyed celebrating the “Vols” victory, I was even more struck by the University of Tennessee, Head football coach, Josh Heupel’s response to all the reporters and national media frenzy. When asked over and over, what this victory meant to him, he said this victory is “for the Tennessee fans, for the players, for the assistant coaches, and for the school.” He even went on to name his assistant coaches and thank them for the sacrifices they make and the time they spend away from their families. This humbleness he exemplified, transcends his team. Shortly after his interview, several of his players were interviewed and these 20-something young men all echoed that message…it takes an entire team to be successful.
So, I wonder…in a world where we are consumed by “I” and rarely do we hear “we,” this coach, at probably the biggest moment in his career, remembered the folks that surrounded and supported him to assist in his team being able to claim victory that night.
What kind of leader are you? What kind of leaders do you follow? Humility is defined as “freedom from pride and arrogance.” So as we shift into a corporate season of strategic planning and off-sites, preparing to discuss the best path to lead our teams in 2023, I challenge you to lead from a perspective of humility and always remember no one got there alone…it truly takes a village.
Go Vols,
Misty
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