These are my two boys. We took a weekend and made a run up to Seattle (btw, amazing venue and classy fans) to catch the MNF game between Chicago and Seattle. I’m a Bears fan. Yeah, I know. It’s a long life of misery. My oldest son is also a Bears fan. My youngest son is a Seahawks fan. I let them pick my “fit.” Obviously.
I’m a mega Bears fan. There is no scenario where I don’t want them to win. But there is a scenario where I was okay with them losing. In Seattle, with my youngest thrilled at the thought of a Hawks victory, I could live with that result.
Not to sensationalize a sporting event. It was just that, a sporting event. But the entire thing triggered a leadership thought, and I suppose we should never miss an opportunity to ponder leadership.
What triggered the thought? A prayer. About a game. And yeah, people will come in and tell me that God could care less about sports. You’re right. I still prayed every time I stepped in the batter’s box as a kid. One time in AAU ball, I was like, “Lord, I need to get on base.” I got drilled with a 90 mph fastball right on the bone. On my way to first, I said, “Hey, maybe not that way next time.” I guess success needs some suffering. Every time the Bears need a win, I say it. In 2016, Game 7 of the World Series, I prayed the entire game for them Cubbies. So it makes sense, out of habit or otherwise, that on MNF I was like, “Come on, Lord, how about a win for the Bears here.” Silly? Maybe. Am I gonna change? I’m old. Probably not.
…Then I looked at Gabe. And I had a thought. Which one does He choose if Gabe is saying the same prayer? As a dad, which one do I choose? One kid will be happy at the end and one disappointed, and my full desire was for them both to be happy. The answer is both.
What I learned was that win or lose, our quick guys’ trip was the win. Not the score. It was the time together, the dinners, the downtown scooters, the laughs, the absolutely bizarre conversations, and the serious trash talk.
In leadership, I have five groups that, for the most part, lead their own businesses. Most of the time, we’re all rowing in the same direction. But there are times when priorities conflict. Resources are limited. What’s best for one group isn’t necessarily what’s best for another. And much like sitting between my two boys in Seattle, I genuinely want them all to win.
But here’s the thing. As a leader, I can’t make everyone happy. I can’t make every decision go everyone’s way. And frankly, that’s not my job.
My job is to see the bigger picture. To make decisions that are fair, even when they’re difficult. To ensure that every group knows they matter, that I’m rooting for their success, and that we’re building something together that’s bigger than any one of us.
I realized sitting in that stadium that I wasn’t really rooting for both football teams to win. I was rooting for both of my boys. And those are two very different things.
Maybe that’s the leadership lesson. We get so focused on individual wins, our own priorities, our own scoreboards, that sometimes we lose sight of what we’re actually trying to accomplish together. We focus on the score, not the weekend. The score, not the process or the effort.
Not everyone gets the outcome they want. Not every decision goes their way. But if we build the right culture, the right relationships, and a shared sense of purpose, we can all walk away having been part of something worthwhile. My boys and I walked away from Seattle with lasting memories and an incredible time. That’s the win.
Btw, the Bears lowered the boom in Seattle. Bear Down.