Momentum is an interesting subject. You know when you see it. You feel it when you have lost it. It makes you better than you really are. But few leaders know anything about how to generate momentum.
In the December 26th edition of USA Today, the subject of momentum for football teams at the end of the season was looked at in great depth. There are great applications here for anyone who leads in a church, business, non-profit or athletic organization.
The following are 13 Things Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Do To Generate Momentum I gleaned from the article:
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Perform With Excellence On A Daily Basis – Momentum visits leaders who perform with excellence on a daily basis regardless of the results. They do the right things consistently. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said, “It’s how we practice, how we prepare and how we stay calm throughout the season.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Just Want An Opportunity To Generate Momentum – For many leaders, as long as there is breath in their bodies there is an opportunity for momentum. Three of the last nine Super Bowl winners did not win their regular season division. Six of the last nine also did not receive first round byes in the playoffs.
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Have A Sense Of Urgency – Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said, “Everybody kind of kicks it into high gear, and everybody understands there has to be a heightened sense of urgency.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Finish Well – Once Flacco and head coach John Harbaugh arrived in 2008, the team has finished with a 28-16 record in November and December. They finish every season on a high note heading into the play-offs.
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Prepare Well – Intuitive leaders know momentum does not happen by accident. Great leaders prepare for it. Flacco said, “When these (coaches) think about December football, they’re altering our schedule in April, May and June and July…It’s very well thought out, and it’s worked well for us.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Add Youth – Young leaders bring fresh ideas, fresh perspectives, energy and enthusiasm. Many of the the NFL teams heading into the play-offs have rookies playing significant roles.
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Continually Improve – NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said, “They (New England Patriots) don’t every change. Their whole goal is to get a little better every day…They’re really suited well to play their best football at the end of the season.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Often Do It When No One Is Looking – Very interesting. High expectations create pressure. Conversely, low expectations is fertile ground for momentum. Trent Dilfer said, “You can’t run from the narrative.” Flacco adds, “It seems like we usually play under the radar, and people don’t really talk about us or give us that much credit. But in the end, we’re usually right there.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Develop A Culture Of Excellence – You develop a culture of leadership by adding as many leaders to your church or organization as possible. Dilfer said, “You never go tactics, you never go talent, you always go culture…Somebody right now is brewing a really special culture, a really special mindset.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Embrace Hard Work – The two most common qualities I have witnessed in researching great leaders is high character and the willingness to work very hard. Dilfer adds, “They embrace the hard stuff.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Perform Well In Chaos – Some leaders just know how to win and perform with excellence during times of crisis. They rise to the occasion. Dilfer goes on, “They’re not overwhelmed by the chaos of a championship run.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Focus On What Is Needed Today – Great leaders are not assumptive. They do not look ahead. They get small wins under their belt every day. Dilfer continues, “They’re living in the moment; they’re not looking ahead.”
- Pastors, Coaches And Leaders Who Generate Momentum Succeed – Dilfer concludes, “Those type of things are almost ways what you hear a championship team say.”
What other things do you see leaders do to generate momentum?
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