Leaders Make Tough Calls

Unless you were transported to another universe or you dwell in a cave, you had to have at least read or heard the words “Super Bowl 49” during the past two weeks.

Most specifically, a lot of people watched the 2015 Super Bowl in what is arguably considered America’s penultimate sporting event.

According to an article, Super Bowl 49 recorded the following stats:

• The TV broadcast scored a 49.7 overnight rating – the largest in the history of the Super Bowl.

• More than 110 million viewers tuned into last year’s game with Sunday’s results, not yet published. However, the numbers expected to exceed the 110 million mark breaking the estimated viewership record.

• It was also the most tweeted Super Bowl, with 28.4 million tweets mentioning the game itself, the halftime show, or the commercials.

Listed below is a quick summary of the game as background information:

• The Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions, carried a 24-14 lead into the final quarter.

• The New England Patriots rallied to take the lead, 28-24, with 2:02 remaining in the game.

• The Seahawks countered the Patriots rally thanks to an acrobatic, destiny written all over it catch by Jermaine Kearse, taking the team to the five yard line of New England with a little over a minute to play.

• The Seahawks running back, Marshawn Lynch, runs like a semi-truck gone wild.

• On the first play after the miraculous catch, he runs the ball from the five yard line to inside the one yard line and nearly scores.

• With 26 seconds remaining, a timeout to use, and three plays in which to score the needed touchdown, Seattle is about to win the game and repeat as world champions.

• All they have to do is give the ball to Lynch, referred to as Beast Mode, and allow him run over or through the opposing players to score the probable touchdown.

• Instead of calling the obvious running play, Seattle inexplicably elects to pass the ball.

• A first year, undrafted player, backup player for the Patriots (Malcolm Butler) steps in front of the pass and intercepts it essentially ending the game in New England’s favor when it was a foregone conclusion Seattle was about to secure the win.

I said the following to my wife as the play unfolded – “that was the dumbest play call I have ever seen in a football game”.

The TV announcers couldn’t believe the reasoning behind the call, almost proverbially falling out their broadcast booth.

Stories have flooded the media with titles such as “Seahawks Lost Because of Worst Play Call In Super Bowl History” or “Pete Carroll Botches the Super Bowl”.

Not to be undone, Twitter lit up and trended under the hashtag #WorstCallEver.

It’s the day after the game and the botched call is the buzz in Football Land.

Enough said. Or maybe not. We are talking football here, not running the country or sending troops into battle.

However, a point can be made for leaders making tough calls and living with the results whether good or bad. Pete Carroll assumed responsibility for the decision made to throw the football.

• He did not blame his offensive coordinator.

• He did not blame his young quarterback.

• He gave his reasoning for the call and accepted responsibility for his decision in the face of much backlash.

In short, he exhibited leadership in taking ownership of his decision despite the avalanche of ill tide against him.

In John Maxwell’s book, Leadership Gold, he talks about leaders distinguishing themselves during tough times and having to make tough calls.

According to Maxwell, making a tough call:

• Demands risk – “Leaders have to be willing to do things others are unwilling to do. They have to put themselves on the line.”

• Brings with it an inward battle – “If you are unsettled internally on an issue, you will not have the security you need for the external battle.”

• Will distinguish you as a leader – “Thank God for the tough times. They are the reason you are there – to be the leader. If everything was going well, the people wouldn’t need you.”

Tough times will either make you or break you. Maxwell cites Winston Churchill saying this:

“To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitting their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”

The uproar for the most dubious play call in the history of the Super Bowl will eventually blow over. You may be reminded of it periodically if you are a fan of the NFL.

Whether you consider yourself a leader is something you have to answer.

If you are a parent, you are a leader.

If you coach a team, you are a leader.

If you are a teacher, you are a leader.

Leaders come in all shapes and sizes.

Are you willing to assume responsibility for making a tough call when the tide of popular opinion is about to crash in on you?

You alone have to answer the question.

However, willing to do so puts you in a class far above the naysayers.

Making tough calls is part of the fabric of being called a leader.

As a leader are you willing to make the tough calls?