“If I show up at your door, chances are you did something to bring me there.” – Martin Blank, Grosse Pointe Blank.
“With great power…comes great responsibility” – Uncle Ben, Spiderman
I know before I even begin that the first thing people will say about this is “Dave…dude…how many times have we heard you say you couldn’t possibly care less about football, so where do you get off writing something about a football player?”
Much like office politics…just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean I don’t fully understand it and even pay some level of attention to it.
And let’s be realistic – you cannot live in the metro Detroit area and be unaware of the Ndamukong Suh debacle.
But this isn’t really about football, per se. This is more about what lessons you can take from Suh’s recent chain of decisions and learn how to apply those lessons learned to your own career…
See, here’s the thing – some basic rules apply regardless of your profession:
Reputation can trump skills
It doesn’t matter how good you are. If you develop a reputation for being untrustworthy, being a jerk, not being a team player, or any of a million other possible negatives…it won’t matter how good you are any more. The company won’t want you any more. Your coworkers won’t want you around, and sure as hell won’t want to put up with your nonsense.
And eventually…that will carry more weight than your skills. Word will get around that your difficult to work with, that you don’t show up on time, that you’re disruptive…and then you’re looking at not only being out of a job, but having a hard time finding someone else to give you your next one.
Being a leader means something
Don’t ask…let alone demand…to be a leader if you’re not ready for what that means.
That means you are an example to others.
That means that other people will model their behaviors after yours.
That means that when there are “voluntary” meetings, you should be there. That means that when you have the opportunity to hurt or help your team members by the course of action you choose to take, you always choose “help”. You don’t vanish and make yourself inaccessible. You don’t refuse to have conversations about your future at the company.
That means that when crunch time hits, you’re the first one to dive in.
You don’t expect others to do what you’re unwilling to do yourself.
“Do as I say, not as I do” might work great with your kids…for a few years at least…but the ones who look to you for leadership and guidance will tolerate it for about twelve seconds.
Don’t be the A-Hole
There is, contrary to popular belief, an “i” in “team”.
It’s the A hole.
Don’t be the A hole.
I really don’t need to explain that any further, do I?
The rules still apply to you
Yes, being a high performing individual tends to come along with some perks.
Sure, you can probably be a little more flexible than some others when it comes to what time you get in each morning…or maybe taking a longer lunch now and again…
But remember…don’t be the A hole, and lead by example.
If you make a habit of “bending” (or even breaking) the rules, resentment will inevitably follow.
People will start to assume that you’re going to be late…even if you weren’t that day. They’ll just assume that you’re screwing off at a three hour lunch…even when you’re really at a client location busting your ass.
So just…don’t. Don’t be that guy.
And yeah, we hardly ever call anyone out by name with this kind of entry…but what are the odds that Suh’s going to show up at one of our events?
If he does, I’ll be hiding behind Bob.
That’s all for this time…go read something else…