The Goal, Not the Role

The Law of the Big Picture says, the goal is more important than the role.

Leaders at the highest level understand the Law of the Big Picture. Think of winning teams throughout history and how they came together to defeat their opponents. Maybe it was a football game or a winning team at work that you were a part of. Or maybe it was an elite team rallying in the Olympics. Perhaps it was a military team fighting for their lives and the future of their country.  

Whatever team you have in mind, when they become motivated to work together, they can win. When teams oppose their own members, they lose. Even if they don’t lose a particular battle, they lose the war unless they work together. 

I think most of us recognize the name Lou Holtz.  The legendary football coach of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. At least, that is the coaching position he is most famous for, although he brought success to other football teams and coached them to work as a team. One of his most notable accomplishments was leading Notre Dame to a National Championship in 1988 finishing the season with a perfect 12-0 record! Many call this 1988 National Championship his ‘crowning achievement.’

It took his leadership skill, discipline, tenacity, and many things about him and his team to win the championship. Holtz is also known for his tradition of not allowing names on the back of jerseys while he was head coach.  He believed in team unity and that no single name was greater than the team as a whole. Holtz consistently highlighted the collective work of the team and created a sense of purpose for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back.

He led the team for the purpose of the team goal, not the individual goal, and helped his team see the big picture.  As Holtz often said, "Teamwork is the foundation of success."