7 Leadership Lessons to learn from the Panthers (whether you like them or not).

The game of the year, if not the decade, is upon us.  The eyes of the world will be watching as the Panthers and Broncos face off on Sunday for a 60 minute battle that couldn’t have a more epic storyline if it had been scripted by Tolkien himself.  And while the fellowship of this ring won’t include me, or most (if not all) of you, there is something besides the ads that we can take with us to work, and beyond when the battle is over.

Therefore, I humbly submit my “7 Leadership Lessons to learn from the Panthers (whether you like them or not).”

Disclaimer:  I am not a statistician, an athlete, or a fantasy football fanatic. These are my observations and opinions as a fan and a leader of people who loves to share leadership principles I learn in everyday life.

(Drum roll)

Lesson #1:  Do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do!

If there’s anything I’ve enjoyed about watching superstar quarterback Cam Newton, among other Panthers players, rise to the top, it’s his love for the game.  From his trademark smile to his sideline celebrations, this guy seems to remember what most parents tell even their less-than-hopeful hopefuls:  “most of all, have fun.”

This year’s fun factor has been the highest I’ve seen and it has translated to a bigger fan base and possibly even the wins themselves.  In some ways, taking the winning ball to a kid in the stands is symbolic of everything this team has done.  They’ve shared their love of the game and it has caught on like the flu in February.

When we do the work we enjoy doing, the work pays us back with more than just a paycheck.  As leaders find the thing that they love and they do it, it sets followers free to follow suit.

Lesson #2:  Own it so you can own it.

Speaking of Cam, there’s something different about him this year.  I know very little about his personal life, but I see a different type of quarterback on the field.

When he started back in 2011, there was no doubt that someone special had joined the NFL, much less the Panthers.  He immediately started smashing records and making a name for himself.  Apart from his noted personal ability, however, the team ended up with back-to-back losing seasons.

As with any new player on a team with a new coach, much of those losses can be attributed to growing pains and the internal changes that were taking place.  What was most noticeable to me, however, was Cam’s demeanor when things weren’t going well.  Time after time, I would see him walk off the field shaking his head and looking defeated.  He seemed to let the game affect him rather than him choosing to affect the game.

Not so this year.  Not only has he placed himself in a position to receive MVP honors, but he’s taken the team with him.  Somehow, somewhere, he stopped filling a position on the team and started taking a roll:  that of a leader.  People in positions blame others for problems while people in rolls of leadership accept responsibility and work to change them, which brings me to lesson number three:

Lesson #3:  Take more-than-your-share of the blame and less-than-your-share of the credit.

Leaders make room on the platform for more than just themselves.  As I’ve listened to post-game comments by Panthers players, the consensus seems to be this:  they’re a team!  The praise poured out on their most prestigious players gets spread throughout the roster.

The best way to keep praise from leading to pride is to share it.  Great leaders instinctively attribute their successes to others who contributed.  Conversely, when something goes wrong, a true leader will take at least part of the blame.  They may not be entirely responsible, and someone within the organization may still face correction, but a good leader takes the heat.

Lesson #4:  Adversity is your frienemy.

Strangely, the Panthers ended up facing the same team, the Falcons, twice in a three week period.  As most fans recall, the first game was a shutout at home where the Panthers won 38-0.  Two weeks later, they were on the Falcon’s home turf in Atlanta and were issued the first and only loss of their season.

Enter adversity.

While this loss ended their perfect season, I believe it served a better purpose.  As with success in most any occupation, winning can only teach you so much.   I believe this loss was instrumental in propelling them to the Superbowl.  Not only were they served a decent dose of humility, but they were forced to look at weaknesses and make corrections that may have cost them later in the post-season.

It has been my experience as a leader that adversity can work for me even more than it seems to work against me.  While I seek to avoid it, when it finds me, I dig deeper and ask God to use it to work out whatever weakness I may possess and work in His character and strength.

 Lesson #5:  Make space for greatness to emerge.

Remember Steve Smith Sr.?  Of course you do, but the real question is do you, or the Panthers, miss him?

While playing for the Panthers, Smith was an incredibly athletic, dynamic and passionate receiver who could take charge and make plays.  To say that he was outspoken would be an understatement.

While no single player has filled the shoes of Smith, four talented receivers and one tight end have risen up and their combined yards over the past two seasons exceed the yardage of Smith’s last season in 2013.

Regardless of how you felt about him as a Panther, or his being cut from the franchise, there’s a lesson for all in his being released:  it takes space for greatness to emerge.

Lesson #6:   Learn to listen; listen to learn.

Coach Ron Rivera is noted as having sought the counsel of  NFL greats such as John Madden and Mike Ditka over the course of his head coaching career.  There was also a reference to him gathering his key players and asking them to express their opinion of things within the organization that needed to change.

Whenever a leader stops listening it won’t be long before they stop leading.  Like Rivera, we must not only listen to those who’ve gone before us, but to those who we expect to follow behind.

As a pastor and leader, I know the privilege to speak to my congregation every Sunday is afforded, in part, by the time I spend listening to my congregation during the other six days of the week.

I learned this from something my mother would say almost every day before dropping me off at school:  “Learn to listen, and listen to learn.”

Thanks Mom!

Lesson #7:  There’s no extraordinary without ordinary.

When it comes to a coaching philosophy, Rivera seems to have adopted the “just be yourself” approach.  While this observation may oversimplify what goes into coaching such a special team, I think there’s a great lesson in recognizing that the basis of becoming great is first being true to who you are.

Rather than working against the strengths of their people, a great leader will capitalize on those strengths and find ways to complement their weaknesses.

My all-time favorite leader took this approach and it has paid off in extraordinary ways ever since.  When Jesus Christ of Nazareth chose His followers, He picked 12 of the most ordinary people of His day and added something extra…Himself.

That’s what a leader does!

So whether you’re stepping out on the field or up to the mic, an athlete or a CEO, a player or a parent, keep learning and “pounding” at the game you’re in until you emerge as the winner!

Such as I have I give,

Nathan C.