Leadership: Lombardi Got it Right

[Guest guest]

From PTManager Blog

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Lombardi Got it Right

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Lombardi Got it Right

I grew up in Wisconsin. During my formative years (as if to suggest I am

still not evolving now) the Green Bay Packers were a dominant force in the

football world. This was well before the super hype of today’s Super Bowl.

It was before there even was a Super Bowl.

The coach of the Packers was Vince Lombardi. Coach Lombardi was known as a

very tough coach, but a very successful one. He was also considered to be a

very strong manager and excellent leader.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to review some of his writings and

speeches. I think there are some excellent lessons there for all of us. The

quotes and comments that are included here are found in a variety of sources

including web sites, books and tapes of the coach. I hope you will find

them as thought provoking as I have.

One of Coach Lombardi’s most famous sayings, and I will paraphrase it here

for brevity, is that even the most elite performers – in football or in life

– most often don’t do anything different than the average performer – they

do the same things the average performer does, they just do them better.

The individual who excels simply does the basics more efficiently, more

gracefully, simply put – better.

I have found this to be very important for most managers. Don’t let all the

fads and new-fangled things distract you from what you should be doing.

Decide what the most important areas for your performance are and stick to

those and work to perfect your skills in those few areas. That will have

the greatest impact on your long term success.

Coach Lombardi had a lot to say about success and winning.

" There's only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it

everything. I do, and I demand that my players do. "

Have you ever worked with peers who simply go through the motions – Lombardi

never tolerated that, why do we?

“Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win

once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them

right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.”

Our systems and our daily practices will matter in the long run and in the

short run . Have you examined your systems, your structures and your daily

operational practices to see if they are helping or just getting in the

way? Are you even following a standard way of operating in your clinical

and office practices? If not, why not?

Coach Lombardi also seemed to understand outcomes when he said the

following.

“Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged

by only one thing-the result. "

What result would you like to accomplish? That is how you will ultimately

be judged.

Leadership, a frequent topic of this column was also a strength for Coach

Lombardi. He, of course, had some thoughts here, too.

“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is

the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile. "

What systems and practices have you developed in your clinic to “make”

leaders? Do you have a leadership development plan for yourself and for

each of your staff?

" If you'll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed

at what you can accomplish in your lives.

The path of least resistance usually leads no where.

" It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. "

Anyone remember the Balanced Budget Act of 1997? In retrospect, I think we

are dramatically stronger because of it. Nietzsche, not Lombardi, was the

one who said that which does not kill us, makes us stronger. I am quite

confident Coach Lombardi would agree.

We give a lot of print and lip service to quality. What does that really

mean in everyday clinical life? What, especially, does it mean to our

patients?

" The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment

to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. "

There is much to be learned from the successful. Vince Lombardi left us a

legacy from which we can study and learn. Enjoy.

I’d love to hear your opinion on this topic, call or email me with your

comments.

Kovacek, PT, MSA, DPT

PKovacek@...

Cell (313) 492-4293

Personal Fax

Twitter.com/PKovacek

Facebook.com/.Kovacek

[Guest guest]

I agree very much with these principles. They are something for all to

aspire to, in all aspects of life, not just professional, but family,

community, etc. as well, for that is what makes up life. Setting priorities

that define healthy boundaries and provide for opportunity for excellence in

all areas is imperative for a satisfying and fulfilled life.

Carroll , PT

Chattanooga, TN

Leadership: Lombardi Got it Right

From PTManager Blog

PTManager.posterous.com

Lombardi Got it Right

http://post.ly/1P5Pw

Lombardi Got it Right

I grew up in Wisconsin. During my formative years (as if to suggest I am

still not evolving now) the Green Bay Packers were a dominant force in the

football world. This was well before the super hype of today's Super Bowl.

It was before there even was a Super Bowl.

The coach of the Packers was Vince Lombardi. Coach Lombardi was known as a

very tough coach, but a very successful one. He was also considered to be a

very strong manager and excellent leader.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to review some of his writings and

speeches. I think there are some excellent lessons there for all of us. The

quotes and comments that are included here are found in a variety of sources

including web sites, books and tapes of the coach. I hope you will find

them as thought provoking as I have.

One of Coach Lombardi's most famous sayings, and I will paraphrase it here

for brevity, is that even the most elite performers - in football or in life

- most often don't do anything different than the average performer - they

do the same things the average performer does, they just do them better.

The individual who excels simply does the basics more efficiently, more

gracefully, simply put - better.

I have found this to be very important for most managers. Don't let all the

fads and new-fangled things distract you from what you should be doing.

Decide what the most important areas for your performance are and stick to

those and work to perfect your skills in those few areas. That will have

the greatest impact on your long term success.

Coach Lombardi had a lot to say about success and winning.

" There's only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it

everything. I do, and I demand that my players do. "

Have you ever worked with peers who simply go through the motions - Lombardi

never tolerated that, why do we?

" Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win

once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them

right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. "

Our systems and our daily practices will matter in the long run and in the

short run . Have you examined your systems, your structures and your daily

operational practices to see if they are helping or just getting in the

way? Are you even following a standard way of operating in your clinical

and office practices? If not, why not?

Coach Lombardi also seemed to understand outcomes when he said the

following.

" Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged

by only one thing-the result. "

What result would you like to accomplish? That is how you will ultimately

be judged.

Leadership, a frequent topic of this column was also a strength for Coach

Lombardi. He, of course, had some thoughts here, too.

" Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is

the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile. "

What systems and practices have you developed in your clinic to " make "

leaders? Do you have a leadership development plan for yourself and for

each of your staff?

" If you'll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed

at what you can accomplish in your lives.

The path of least resistance usually leads no where.

" It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. "

Anyone remember the Balanced Budget Act of 1997? In retrospect, I think we

are dramatically stronger because of it. Nietzsche, not Lombardi, was the

one who said that which does not kill us, makes us stronger. I am quite

confident Coach Lombardi would agree.

We give a lot of print and lip service to quality. What does that really

mean in everyday clinical life? What, especially, does it mean to our

patients?

" The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment

to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. "

There is much to be learned from the successful. Vince Lombardi left us a

legacy from which we can study and learn. Enjoy.

I'd love to hear your opinion on this topic, call or email me with your

comments.

Kovacek, PT, MSA, DPT

PKovacek@...

Cell (313) 492-4293

Personal Fax

Twitter.com/PKovacek

Facebook.com/.Kovacek