Forging Followship

Dan Quinn, coach of the Washington Commanders, could have made excuses

after he got hit hard on the sideline bloodying his nose and banging his head on the

hard surface of the ground this past Sunday, but he didn’t. Since taking his coaching

position, he had been speaking a phrase he wanted to instill in the hearts and minds of

his players. The phrase, “You get knocked down, you get back up and keep going!”

Simple phrase, easily said, but difficult to practice especially if getting knocked

down steals one’s desire to keep going. Dan chose not to let that happen; he didn’t

manufacture excuses for him to leave the game and get checked and patched up by the

sports physician. He simply defined the phrase by his actions. He got back up and kept

coaching. His motivating actions made their way to the hearts of his players taking them

to a higher level of “followship.”

Followship doesn’t just happen, it is forged by the “FAITH” of Focused leaders,

Accountable to their people, Intentional as an example, Truthful in word and deed, and

always Humble at heart. Had Dan Quinn done anything less, his ability to forge

followship would have diminished exponentially. Leaders who fear failure usually fail

because of fear. Fear occurs when one’s focus gets obstructed, and they get easily

overwhelmed by circumstances that compel them to acquiesce and cower in fear,

forcing the leader to run scared and out of control while being driven by panic.

Two words that should never enter a leader’s internal conversation are these, “I

Panicked!” Leaders employing these words are at the threshold of manufacturing

excuses (ME) instead of wrangling emotions (WE). Once they walk through that

“excuse” door they begin losing heart and their ability to lead. Panicky Leaders will

always lead poorly, because they are being led by the variables dictating and directing

their leadership behavior.

If you are an aspiring leader or in a position of leadership, let me encourage you

to follow Dan’s example. He didn’t allow his focus to get obstructed, he would not

sanction being easily overwhelmed, nor did he acquiesce to the circumstances, or

permit himself to run scared and out of control. In short, he didn’t panic. Dan leads by

faith as described above, not fear. What about you?