This is the first part of a multi-part series covering some of the topics and ideas brought up by former ESPN producer and current Sports Spectrum Podcast host Jason Romano in his new book, “The Uniform of Leadership”. It becomes available on July 28th at anywhere books are sold, and covers lessons of leadership he learned along his phenomenal journey in the world of sports media.
The true and full impact of one’s performance simply cannot be measured.
Think about it.
From a sports standpoint, we know how many homers Aaron Judge hit last season, or the number of putouts he made as the Yankees’ starting right fielder. Even in an age when everything from hits with runners in scoring position to defensive runs saved is recorded, statisticians still haven't found a way to measure a player’s impact on the team chemistry in the locker room or how many kids he or she has inspired to pick up a bat, throw a ball, or shoot a basket. The same goes for anyone in virtually any field on the face of the planet.
Everyone is on earth for a specific purpose. Romans 8:28 tells us that when Paul writes, “And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to his purpose”. So if we work hard to live out our purpose, to give it all where we are, with the opportunities we have been given, in whatever we have coming up in the day ahead, we will be making a positive impact. That alone is the bottom line.
As hall of fame basketball player Larry Bird put it, “I’ve got a theory that if you give 100% all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.”
A single player may have a phenomenal season, win the MVP of the league and set a few records. However, if his team ends up in last place, and he is playing for himself and not the good of the entire team, then his impact on his teammates, coaches and the fans will be negative. Never mind the stats and accolades. People see right through that. Even if you are the greatest in your field. People will ultimately care about how you led them. Were you doing it for yourself, or for the good of the team?
However, as Romano notes. The results may not be immediate. You may not see the fruits of your labor right away, but that does not mean that you have made no impact at all. It just may take some time to realize this. Romano came to understand this fact, over 17 years of working at ESPN, especially in the final seven after an eye opening conversation with former NFL head coach Tony Dungy and Dungy’s publicist’s assistant, Jessica. It ultimately made him realize that he could live out his christian faith the way he wanted to while working for ESPN. He could not measure the seeds he had planted in coworkers over the years or the amount of encouragement he had dished out. He could see, though, the impressions he gave off, and how coworkers would sometimes come to him when they wanted to pray or simply needed someone to talk to.
As leaders, we should not be in it seeking to see how much we’ve done. Instead, it should constantly be serving and giving back to those we lead, while setting an example and showing the ropes for those who will come behind us. The way one leads cannot be told through numbers. It can be told, though, through the people being led and the true impact the leader made on them.
Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi once said of true leaders, “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal which is worthwhile.”
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