Dr. Maccoby participates in a Weekly Forum on Washington Post.com called "On Leadership". I am compiling all of his responses to the weekly questions here.
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1/26/09 Over the Hill or Just Overlooked?
The perennially-mediocre Arizona Cardinals made this year's Super Bowl in large part because its coach, Ken Whisenhunt, picked 37-year-old Kurt Warner -- a former superstar widely considered to be washed up -- to be the team's QB. Do leaders too often ignore experienced but under-performing talent in their organizations and, if so, why? How do you identify the good comeback prospects and help them to pick up their game? |
Losers and Winners
Someone can seem inept in one context and brilliant in another. Think of Winston Churchill, all washed up in the 1930s as the Brits wanted to believe in "peace in our time". Then in World War II he would become an indispensable leader.
Football, like any big business, is a team sport. We have seen executives like Kurt Warner look like losers in one role and winners in another. Lee Iacocca was fired by Henry Ford II, becoming the winning quarterback at Chrysler. Against Philadelphia, Warner had the good fortune to be teamed up with Larry Fitzgerald, a brilliant wide receiver. Without Fitzgerald and an over-achieving offensive line, no one would be singing Warner's praises. Let's see how Warner and Fitzgerald deal with an awesome Pittsburgh pass defense.
By Michael Maccoby | January 26, 2009; 11:34 AM ET | Category: Sports Leadership
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