Friends of Dave #199: am I the a-hole?
GOAT or FoD: replicating past success is hard without discipline.
Keeping with the consistent pattern I described in my last preamble, I once again found myself catching up with a former colleague (and Friend of Dave) towards the end of this week.
Among the topics we discussed: the challenge we have both faced when brought into organizations with expectations of quickly replicating the past success of company we were with that is in the same industry.
It reminded me of what Tom Brady must be experiencing right now.
Like him or not, Brady is perhaps the most accomplished American football player ever to have played the game. In many circles, he is referred to as "The GOAT" -- greatest of all time.
After 20 seasons and 6 championships with the New England Patriots (all won with Brady at the quarterback position), he left this past season for a new team in Tampa -- an organization with a good coach, some decent players, but not of the same caliber across the board.
His departure brought him new scenery, a warmer climate, more money, less taxes, and an opportunity to prove that he could bring change and forge success away from his old team.
That team, the Patriots, is an organization well known for having a buttoned up, ultra focused culture based largely around one simple, top down principle: "Do your job."
While the jury is still out at this point, let's just say the results so far have been Not So Great for The GOAT and his new team.
What Tom Brady is experiencing in Tampa is what many of us have seen when changing companies in pursuit of recapturing past success: it can be extremely hard to pull off, particularly when expectations are high and the cultures are not aligned.
So much goes into what contributes to an organization's success -- like the quality of leadership, the talent throughout the organization, market timing, ability to execute and, yes, plain and simple dumb luck.
From what I have seen in multiple instances along my own journey (both as a consultant and a full time contributor) if discipline is not already a key organic component from top to bottom of an organization's culture, it's unreasonable to expect importing a proven outside talent will lead to change and quick success.
Lasting change takes time. It takes focus. And often what worked in one situation or organization cannot be easily replicated with the talent, egos and resources available in another.
That is where discipline is so crucial. If everyone is clear on mission, understands what is expected of them, and there is a strong culture that enables execution on those objectives already in place from the very top of an organization down, "change" becomes more of a welcome "fine tuning".
But if existing leadership is too rigid or lacks humility or is unwilling to embrace the discipline component, the agent bringing change, who may have been seen as a savior or "The Solution", will get frustrated.
If they are not directly empowered in a key leadership role, they will inevitably clash with existing leaders because they are not getting the support they expect and to which they are accustomed. The "experiment" is likely doomed to fail.
Think about your own experiences. How many times have you seen a new "flavor of the month" employee join an organization from the outside only to flame out within 12-18 months? Maybe they were a "GOAT" at another company. Maybe this was even you.
Look, this isn't always the case. Perhaps the "GOAT" wasn't really a "GOAT" -- they were at the right place at the right time with the right people. Maybe, instead, they were just a GLOGT -- got lucky on good team.
But, more often than not, without everyone else around them focused on doing their job, even a GOAT can't be expected to replicate success under those circumstances.
Through it all, when you see someone lead change and pull off success more than once, acknowledge that was more than luck. Those are the real GOATs...
While some might not think this issue is a GOAT, it's okay. To those, know that, deep down, IDGAF. I might even suggest checking out this week's Last Word for some enlightenment. LOL.
Have a great weekend everyone!
XOXO
Dave
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And The Last Word....
Can “Am I the A**hole?” Actually Help Make People Better? — www.theringer.com
It started as a simple forum for one man to ask for feedback about his workplace behavior. Seven years later, it’s become a place where millions of people discuss good, bad, and everything in between.
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