Leadership sets the tone for the organization. There’s no better way to do it than by walking your talk.
Said another way, do what you say you’re going to do.
Be the person you say you are.
Be consistent.
I’d like to use Jim Harbaugh as an example of what I’m talking about.
For those who don’t follow college football, please accept this brief primer on him and the team he coaches, the Michigan Wolverines.
The University of Michigan hadn’t won a National Championship since 1997 and has flamed out in the college football playoff in each of the last two seasons. Things were so bad five years ago the school was ready to jettison their head coach into the sun due to his inability to beat Ohio State. He offered to cut his salary in half and they kept him on with the promise he’d get over the hump. And get over it he did, turning Michigan into a powerhouse on both sides of the ball. He built a team specifically to beat OSU and for the last three years, they’ve done just that.
One of the big changes attributed to Harbaugh was his demeanor with his players. About three years ago he became a lot more fun and supportive; dare I say, personal, with his players. The love they have for him is obvious and infectious. These guys trust and believe in him fully and I’m going to show you what that looks like in a specific instance.
In this clip, Michigan is tied with Alabama 20-20 with under a minute to go in the 4th quarter. Jake Thaw is back to field a punt and he muffs it. He loses the ball and for a second, it looks like Bama is going to either recover the ball in the end zone, effectively ending the game, or they’ll tackle Thaw in the end zone for a safety, pretty much ending it as well. Neither happens.
Somehow, Jake Thaw regains the ball and manages to get himself to the one-yard line. Michigan retains possession and can run the clock out to go to overtime where they score the game-deciding touchdown on a 17-yard Blake Corum jaunt to Valhalla – a run that will live for eternity.
So what about Harbaugh and leadership? Yes, right, that.
Michigan goes on to defeat Washington in the National title game and claims their first Championship in 27 years. It’s glorious. Part of winning one is glad-handing a lot of boosters and fans for days while you say thank you to the community that supported you. Nice stuff, truly.
At this particular meet and greet with the trophy, Harbaugh has a small moment with Jake Thaw and tells him that he won the game for the Wolverines. That’s one way of putting it. Thaw’s initial error nearly spelled death for their season but all Harbaugh is focused on is the good.
Introducing Thaw to a fan:
Harbaugh: This guy made a game-saving fumble recovery! It’s a fact, it’s a fact!
Thaw: Coach, I’m never going to be able to look at it like that!
H: What!? You’ve got to look at it like that!
T: I put us in that situation in the first place.
H: Jake. Alright. You don’t pick that ball up and have the presence of mind to get, stay out of the end zone, plus you take that hit… If you don’t secure that ball we lose that game.
T: (Smiling) I don’t even like to think about what happened!
H: You won the game for us! You won the game for us!
You can tell by his body language and tone, he means every word of it.
This is generous.
This is why his players love him and his coaches cry on National TV.
This is a leader of the highest caliber. This is a true Michigan Man.
When was the last time you walked your talk?
When were you generous with your opinion, your time, your view of a blunder?
What will you do tomorrow to foster the kind of environment that makes people want to put it all on the line?
Robert H Myers 
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