Monday of this week was a sad day in Denver due to Sunday’s epic loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. I think I can speak for most Bronco fans. We are disappointed that the season ended as it did. Yet, we choose to focus on the season versus the loss. Only two teams out of 32 can make it to the Super Bowl and we were one of them. After the game, quarterback Peyton Manning was greeting fans and signing autographs. He could easily have retreated with his head down yet he chose to connect. When later interviewed and asked if he was embarrassed by the loss, he had a great leadership response. He said it wasn’t embarrassing at all! And the word “embarrassing” is an insulting word and not one he would use. Why the terse response? He was defending his team who had worked hard to get to this championship, and they deserved a better description for their hard work. Peyton said they would use the experience to fuel their team to be better for the next season.
Lesson #1: Praise versus complain. It is easy to blame and deflect when you find yourself in a defeating situation. We are wired to find someone to frame because it feels easier than owning it. Complaining actually feels good or we wouldn’t do it so much. It takes discipline to choose something else. Good leaders choose praise.
Lesson #2: Don’t put off the learning. When failure knocks on your door don’t keep it shut out hoping it will go away. Invite it in and learn from it. The barred door and windows just keep it lurking in the bushes. It won’t leave. Best to let it in and understand it. It will be more likely to keep its stay very short. You can then harness the learning in quick and productive ways. Good leaders are constant learners.
Lesson #3: Don’t be embarrassed. Failure is normal. The more we try to diminish it, the more shame we allow ourselves to feel. When we are open about our failures we give the defeat little credit to define us. Failure isn’t embarrassing. What’s embarrassing is when we pretend the failure didn’t happen. Good leaders bring the failure out into the open so learning can support future success.
Lesson #2: Don’t put off the learning. When failure knocks on your door don’t keep it shut out hoping it will go away. Invite it in and learn from it. The barred door and windows just keep it lurking in the bushes. It won’t leave. Best to let it in and understand it. It will be more likely to keep its stay very short. You can then harness the learning in quick and productive ways. Good leaders are constant learners.
Lesson #3: Don’t be embarrassed. Failure is normal. The more we try to diminish it, the more shame we allow ourselves to feel. When we are open about our failures we give the defeat little credit to define us. Failure isn’t embarrassing. What’s embarrassing is when we pretend the failure didn’t happen. Good leaders bring the failure out into the open so learning can support future success.
I’m proud of the Broncos and I think Peyton Manning deserves great credit for his accomplishments. He is a 5-time MVP, his playing career and statistics have ranked him among the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He has also undergone intense neck surgeries that could easily have ended his career. He’s a good team player and a class-act. After the loss on Sunday he was quick to find Sherman from the Seahawks who had an ankle injury, and make sure he was okay. There are always good things in store for a team under that type of leadership.
How do you purge embarrassment from your failures?
How do you purge embarrassment from your failures?
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