Leadership on the Field and at the Office
It鈥檚 late October and football season is heating up! The better teams are emerging and positioning themselves for a championship run. If you follow the sport, you know the quarterback directs the offense鈥攖he player who communicates the strategy, distributes the ball, and changes the play when necessary. In the workplace, a manager plays a similar role by explaining objectives, assigning tasks to personnel, and making adaptations as needed. Both roles require leadership that blends knowledge, skills identification, and emotional intelligence to bring out the best in their teams.
Mastery of the Playbook and Operations Manual
As a quarterback needs to know the team鈥檚 playbook inside and out, a manager also must have complete command of their organization鈥檚 operational systems and processes. The quarterback commits to the game plan, mentally prepares for every possible scenario, and studies the opponent鈥檚 tendencies. In the same way, a manager is thoroughly familiar with the system, workflow, and how competitive peers run. This knowledge allows for confident execution, even under pressure. When leaders know not just what needs to be done but why and how, they can communicate clearly and ensure the team stays connected with its mission.
They Know the Talent Around Them
Another quarterback-manager parallel lies in recognizing the strengths and limitations of their personnel. A quarterback knows which running back has good hands, which linemen can be relied on against a blitz, and when a wide receiver has an advantageous match-up. Managers, too, know their teammates鈥� unique talents, motivations, and areas for growth. Perceptive leaders assign roles that match with individual strengths, and everyone understands their contribution to the overall game plan. By pairing people to tasks that showcase their abilities, managers enable employees to feel valued and in position to excel.
Character After Wins and Losses
One of the most enduring marks of great leadership鈥攐n the field or in the office鈥攊s how success and failure are handled. The best quarterbacks praise their teammates after wins and shoulder responsibility when the result is a loss. They get that leadership means accountability, not self-promotion. Likewise, strong managers deflect adulation, acknowledging their teams鈥� achievements and make sure that credit is shared. And when setbacks occur, they take ownership and focus on solutions, not blame. This builds trust, loyalty, and respect that motivates teams to remain steady even when facing challenges.
A Leader to Rally Around
While the physical demands of quarterback and manager differ greatly, the leadership traits are rather alike. Preparation, awareness of team capabilities, and humility in victory and defeat are foundational principles of effective leadership. When managers embrace these qualities, they do much more than just execute strategy鈥攖hey ignite high performance while forming a sense of shared purpose. Whether on the football field or in the workplace, leadership can be defined by a single standard: uniting people around a common goal and guiding them, play by play, toward collective achievement.