Sabers vs. Cougars
“…and officer, that’s when the fight started.” a Cougars’ varsity cheerleader exclaimed.
*1 hour earlier*
Its 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter of the High School Football Championship. The Sabers are up by 5. The Cougars have to drive the football 80 yards and score a touchdown to win.
Pretty Ricky is the Cougars’ quarterback. The team started calling him Pretty Ricky his freshman year because his spiral of the football was so pretty. But everyone else thinks he got that name because all the girls love him.
During the 2 minute warning timeout, Pretty Ricky huddles the Cougars offense to rally the team. Without the Sabers or the refs noticing, the Sabers quarterback jogs onto the field and enters the Cougars huddle. He steps in front of Pretty Ricky…kneels down…interrupts him and says, “Hey Ricky, go have a seat on the bench. Guys, I’ll be quarterbacking this series.”
The Cougar team members grab the Sabers quarterback by his shoulder pads and face-mask. Yelling and cursing at him, they toss him out of the huddle. The Sabers quarterback falls to the ground.
The packed stadium lets out a collective, “Ohhhh!”
The Sabers defense and everyone on their sideline sees their quarterback being thrown to the ground. Thinking the Cougars somehow abducted their quarterback and bojangled him in their huddle, the Sabers defensive line rushes to their quarterback’s aid. The linebackers head straight for the players that threw him to the ground. The Cougar offense halts their attack. A tussle ensues. The entire Sabers sideline bum-rush the field.
The Cougars’ sideline, unaware of what’s going on, but seeing their offense under the threat of attack by the entire Sabers’ bench, also bum-rush the field. Both teams collide at the 20 yard line. “And officer, that’s when the fight started.”
What went wrong here? Was it the Sabers quarterback’s fault? Or was it the Cougars fault for throwing the quarterback to the ground? Or is there a larger issue here???
(Pay attention because I’m not really talking about football)
Leadership only exists inside an organization
In all cases, in every situation, under all circumstances…leadership only exists inside an organization. This is rule #1 of leadership.
I wrote previously about the difference between groups and organizations. READ that article to get caught up. You’ll discover whether your relationship is a group or an organization. But in summary, a group is:
- two or more people that perceive there is unity among them, and
- are acting in a unified way toward society.
The Cougars football team is a group.
An organization is:
- a group,
- established for a purpose or to accomplish a common goal, and
- each member has different roles and responsibilities that lead towards accomplishing that purpose or common goal.
The Cougars football team is a group that was created to play football as a team and win football games. Each team member of the Cougars has a specific role and responsibility that helps the team accomplish its common goal. Pretty Ricky’s role is the quarterback – the leader of the offense. This team is therefore an organization.
The Sabers football team is also an organization. And their quarterback is also the leader of their offense. But when the Sabers quarterback tried to lead the Cougars offense – his leadership was rejected.
Here’s the principle about leadership you need to take away from this football melee: Even if you are recognized as a leader in one organization, once you step outside that organization, your leadership is nullified. Why? Because leadership only exists inside an organization.
4 Ways to Earn Her Trust
Fellas, just because you’re a man, doesn’t mean you automatically inherit the leadership position in your current or future relationship. You have to earn her trust before she will allow you to lead her. How?
- Do what you say!
- Be consistent!
- Consider her interests when making decisions!
- Admit when you’re wrong!
If you just do 2 out of 4, you’re winning her trust.
But pick the two you struggle with the most and start improving on them weekly and watch your leadership improve.
Follow
Great article about leadership. Leadership and trust being earned is definatley the key. So often as men we believe that our position as a man earns us leadership within our “organization” but we must understand that she isn’t required to let you lead her without first you proving that you are leadership worthy through consistency of ACTIONS! Good post!
Thanks Troy. There’s a whole lot in what you just said. I am going to address them in the upcoming weeks. I feel free to use some of these subject when you have your discussions with men. They need to hear/read it.