I’m a huge NFL fan. Each fall on Sundays, you’ll find me watching from my couch or at a game. Unfortunately, my hometown team, the Arizona Cardinals, has the most losses in NFL history.
But I have hope. Why? Head coach Mike LaFleur publicly takes responsibility. After the Cardinals’ Oct. 11 loss to Detroit, he said, “Jacoby was not the problem, the problem was the team today. That starts with me.”
That starts with me. Four words I wish we heard more often in business. When results fall short, some leaders blame employees for not working hard enough, managers for not executing, or people for resisting change.
Before pointing fingers, they should ask: Have I made priorities clear? Equipped managers to lead? Provided the training, resources, and support people need? Kept my own commitments?
You cannot demand execution without clarity, expect effective management without training, or ignore feedback and wonder why employees stop speaking up. Accountability applies to everyone—including the person at the top and every manager.
But taking responsibility requires more than words. Leaders must address problems, change decisions, and follow through. That’s why I have hope. LaFleur is putting his own performance under scrutiny. Business leaders should do the same.
Before you ask your team what they’re going to do differently, tell them what you’re going to do differently. If not you, who?
