Adding Leaders: Insights from the 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Draft

On Monday, April 26th in Peter King's great column Monday Morning QB (http://rss.cnn.com/rss/si_peter_king.rss) he noted that five of the seven Kansas City Chief 2010 draft picks were captains of the college teams. They were:

1. Eric Berry of the Tennessee Volunteers who was also the best defensive player in the draft not named Suh.
2. Dexter McCluster of the Ole Miss Rebels who can play multiple positions on the offensive side of the ball.
3. Javier Arenas of the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide who was also the best return man in the draft.
4. Jon Asamoah of Illinois who provides depth on the offensive line and an eventual starter.
5. Tony Moeaki of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

In this Scott Pioli's second draft, I like what the Chiefs did and the type of organization they are building. Because of their player acquisition strategy, I think you will see them in the playoffs in 2011. Why? Because when you add leaders to your team, you will receive the following benefits:

• You will see an increase in skill. In athletics and life, people naturally follow people more gifted than themselves. As Chris Carter told us on draft day when evaluating Tim Tebow's leadership, players don't listen to you if you aren't on the field. If you have been singled out by your teammates as a leader, they are also acknowledging your level of skill.
• You will see an increase in work ethic. One of the costs of leadership is an investment of sweat equity. Not only do successful leaders work harder than others, they also are very strategic on how they leverage their time. Leaders are laser-focused and work on the right things while influencing others to do the same.
• You will see an increase in passion. Leaders own the results. The five players drafted will help create a culture of winning in Kansas City. By raising the bar, leaders will help filter out players who merely want to collect a paycheck and one day draw a pension.
• You will see an increase in talent. Because the skill, work ethic, and passion will increase with the Chiefs, other top players will want to be part of that. Talent attracts talent.
• You will see an increase in wins in close games. In 2009, the Chiefs went 4-12 losing six of those games by seven points or less. By adding leaders, you will see over the next two years the Chiefs begin to win those close games. As John Maxwell (http://www.johnmaxwell.com/) tells us with The Law of the Edge, the difference between two evenly matched teams is leadership.

For my theory to prove true, QB Matt Cassell must fulfill his role as the primary field leader and perform at a higher level. I trust Scott Pioli and if he has confidence in Cassell, so do I. Look for the Chiefs to have 7 to 9 wins in 2010 and be in the playoffs in 2011 - assuming we have a season.

Allen Iverson: The Most Overrated Superstar In NBA History

This is a tough blog to write but the implications for church and business leaders is significant. Allen Iverson is a Hall of Famer with an incredible resume. 1st pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. Rookie of the Year. 10-time NBA All-Star. 2-time All-Star game MVP. 4 time scoring champ. 2000-01 League MVP. 2004 bronze medalist in the Olympics. Over 24,000 career points which is 17th all-time. And I could go on but I will not...because unfortunately the most electrifying player in the NBA for a 5-year period is also the most overrated superstar in NBA history. The following are the reasons why:

• The success of the 76er teams in the early part of this decade were a result of Larry Brown's coaching. The Larry Brown coached Sixers averaged 45 wins per year. The AI teams not coached by Brown averaged 34 wins per year. Application: If you are deciding which church to serve in or work for, always pick the one with the "best" Pastor. If you are deciding between career options, pick the company with the best leaders. Everything rises and falls on leadership. Don't make decisions based upon financial or geographical considerations. The results will be short-lived and quality leadership will win out over an extended timeframe.
• Each team AI left dramatically improved. The Sixers made the play-offs both years after Iverson left. Andre Igoudala has emerged as a potential superstar since his departure. The Denver Nuggets made the Western Conference Finals after trading AI for Chauncy Billups. Conversely, the Detroit Pistons went from 59 wins to 39 with AI running the offense. Application: There is a difference between activity and accomplishment. You may have people on your team that are flashy and talk a good game. The people you want, though, are the ones whose departments and teams deliver consistent results. Is their area of ministry bearing fruit and growing? Are lives being changed? Are ministries being fully funded? Is your mission statement being realized as it is written? If not, you may have an AI on your hands.
• Making Others Better. It is interesting to note that not one of Iverson's 76er teammates made the All-Star game the same year he did. Not one other dominant point guard had that issue. A rising tide lifts all ships. Maybe Iverson never had talent around him but he never lifted another player's skill to a level that was significant. Check out the last 10 seconds in the clip below for his thoughts on making others better. Application: Pastor and business leader, your Executive Leadership Team should always be producing additional all-stars. It is their responsibility to embody and subsequently multiply your vision and leadership by equipping others to do the work of the ministry or organization. Key question - how many attenders have taken the risk of a new leadership position in your church in the last year? Think about the answer to that question and its implications.
• Foundational Elements. Iverson for all his skill constantly neglected the basics of his position. With a 42.5% career shooting percentage, his frenetic pace while constantly entertaining often put his team is non-enviable situations. He also had an assist-to-turnover ratio of less than 2. His disdain for practice is legendary as you will see in the clip below. In regard to his character, there were numerous off the court issues. Application: If you have a team member who constantly neglects the fundamentals in his life, the issue is when, not if, that person will put your organization in trouble. In ministry, watch how they manage money, do they arrive and leave on time, how do they interact with their spouse, how they deal with lust and the opposite sex, and most important, what does their daily quiet time looks like? Nothing can erode trust and momentum like a character issue from a key player in your organization.

Final thoughts. I loved watching Allen Iverson during his prime. He had unbelievable passion and was physically the toughest player in the NBA. However, without the strong leadership of Larry Brown, he never achieved his potential nor did the people around him. A key component to maximizing capacity is that your star players equip others for success and makes sure everyone crosses the finish line together. Pastor or business leader, the lesson we learn from the career of AI is that leadership with substance is much more sustainable than a charismatic performer or personality without a strong foundation and commitment to the success of others.

Mike Scioscia - The Best Manager In Baseball

The following is the 2nd part of my look at the best organization in baseball, the Los Angeles Angels. In this post, we will analyze the leadership style of Mike Scioscia and what we can learn his approach.

• The Angels, though not as famous as the Chicago Cubs, had a long history of play-off collapses. See the 1986 ALCS against the Red Sox. However, when Scioscia arrived he successfully communicated the "one day at a time" philosophy. Only Bobby Cox can match Scioscia when it comes to individual player and organizational long-term thinking.
• Scioscia refuses to accept credit. He constantly refers to the talent and depth of the organization. Furthermore, he constantly stresses that "we don't do anything extraordinary."
• The difference between equally matched teams is leadership. No manager puts pressure on opposing teams more than Scioscia. He brings a National League style of leadership that was formed from his days as a catcher. He places a great emphasis on base running. No AL team goes from first to third as often or effectively as the Angels. No team bunts more. Also, they specialize in strategic game-time decisions such as moving runners over manufacturing run support.
• Scioscia leads up well. Owner Arte Moreno lets baseball people make baseball decisions. Scioscia also gives the same ownership and responsibility to his Assistant Coaches. This could be a primary reason for the stability at every level of the organization. In 10 seasons as a Manager, he has lost only three assistants and two went to become a Manager (Bud Black and Joe Maddon).
• Player Development. In a Sporting News article in June 2008, Scioscia said "If you're not developing your own guys, scouting, drafting, and developing your own players, a philosophy we know is important, it's very, very tough to keep continuity and keep the team where it needs to be. This whole clubhouse really has a feel of player development in it, which is really the ultimate." When someone comes up to the majors, they are generally ready.
• Every Player Has A Role. He uses the entire 25 man roster. This keeps the players fresh and demonstrates his full support of their efforts.

In conclusion, a final thought about Scioscia. When it came time to leading through the crisis of Adenhart’s passing, he understood the weight on the players’ hearts and shoulders. He didn’t discuss the team’s play for two weeks. After a long road trip losing five of six and a final memorial service, he re-focused the team on the the joy of playing baseball. Subsequently, the team then went 13-6 and off to the races.