Managers don't just avert downside for their organisations, but also for their individual team members.There will be those who declare "The Blind Side" another liberal white guilt movie like "Precious," but unlike that film, "The Blind Side" tells a true story. As I described in ‘ Three Levels of Empowerment’, true em-Power-ment means ‘I’ve got your back’. Managers protect the Blind Side – It is easy for fans, coaches and leaders alike to get caught up in the winning potential of point-scoring ‘quarterbacks’ (especially in today’s QB-oriented NFL) forgetting the critical complementary roles.While there are certainly constraints and considerations (John Maxwell has a fine piece on this balance), I personally believe that you can’t be effective as either a leader or a manager if you do not sincerely ‘care’ about the individuals involved. A big school of thought preaches an emotional distance, that it is all ‘business’. Leaders care – Executives often debate to what degree leaders and managers should get emotionally involved with their teams.Managers influence – Leigh illustrated countless, priceless examples of practicing the art of influence on her family, friends, teachers, project tormentors, and of course Michael himself.She accepted the parameters of her stakeholders (school administration, school teachers, NCAA) and made sure that the i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed right down to the last tenth of a GPA point. She could have fought the rules on the grounds of Michael’s exceptional hardships and exceptional talents. Leigh could have tried to buck the system. Managers mind the stakeholders – And the numbers.Leadership admits mistakes – In the biggest decision of the film and one dearly important to Tuohy, she accepts criticism despite how unfounded it is, and goes to extra lengths to re-examine it.Leigh understood the importance of these and invested deeply to overcome them. Management addresses weaknesses – Grades, fitness, knowledge of the sport, trust, lack of aggression.Michael scored in the 98th percentile in protective instincts.” Leadership plays to strengths – After a breakthrough to Michael that the football coach never achieved, Tuohy remarks, “ You should really get to know your players.
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