Turn your ghosts and zombies into superheroes.

If you’re like most leaders, your team culture is made up of some superheroes, a fair number of ghosts, and a few zombies.  You have superheroes – the very actively engaged and enthusiastic (high potentials). You have ghosts – the ones trying to float around unseen, just getting by. And, you have zombies – the actively disgruntled who want to create other zombies. 

There is a great scene in the movie, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” where Nurse Ratched, a tyrannical nurse on a psychiatric ward, forbids the patients from watching the World Series on TV.  As a result, Randle P. McMurphy, a newly arrived patient who is not going to take this without a fight, begins announcing imaginary baseball plays as he watches a blank TV screen. Pretty soon most of the other patients have gathered around him, shouting and cheering on the invisible players. Believe it or not, this scene and the ones that follow it in the movie illustrate some very important lessons about leadership and how leaders can create the culture change they envision for their organizations.  

Are you having a difficult time inspiring your teammates?  Then leave your ego on the bench and get in the game.

Unfortunately there are many sport examples of poor leadership. Lebron James, Alex Rodriguez, Brett Favre, Barry Bonds, the list goes on. Individuals who focus on their own accomplishments often miss out on the opportunity to make their teammates better and win championships. However, I would like to talk about the qualities that lead to championships.