Monday Mentorship

As quarterbacks, we are conditioned to be the "man with the answers." When a play breaks down, our natural drive is to analyze the variables—the timing of the route, the protection in the pocket, or the conditions on the field, and provide the “correct” explanation for what happened. Of course, that approach has its drawbacks.

In this week’s Monday Mentorship, Steve Young explains how a leader's choice to simplify the “analysis” of a situation can radically change the energy and performance of an entire team and organization. Watch the video, then continue in the conversation below.

The Read:

• There is an “I” in Team: When Young moved beyond the "intervening circumstances" and simply said, "I screwed it up. It’s my fault," the team's focus immediately shifted to the next play, and what each person could do better.

• Responsibility is Contagious: Owning your role, and your faults, gives your "teammates" (e.g. partners, employees, etc) the psychological safety to be honest about theirs. Once the leader takes the hit, the team stops debating the past and starts solving for the future.

• Take Extreme Ownership: Strict personal accountability is the foundation for success in any high-stakes endeavor or environment—from private equity deals to household events.

The Opportunity: 

Identify a current project or initiative you are working on that is facing challenges or has experienced a setback. Instead of detailing the external variables, try the Steve Young approach: Take extreme ownership, own the result entirely, and watch how fast your huddle recovers.

The Asks: 

Do you have any content related to accountability, or any other content you think would be helpful for Monday Mentorship? Please send it to [email protected]. We want QB Connections to be a group that sources the best information from within our own team, and we will most certainly credit you if we post it in the future!

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The more we grow our QB Connections, the stronger we will be, and the more opportunities we will create for ourselves.

Thank you!