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By now, I am sure everyone has heard about Cam Newton's one-worded press conference that followed the defeat of the Carolina Panthers to the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl 50. Coming into the game, Newton was known for cracking jokes, taking jabs at the other teams and being "the face of the league" in prior press conferences. Yet, this time, the man known for wearing golden shoes and tiger print pants met the press in a non-descrip hoodie and hardly made any eye contact with the members of the press; ending their time together with "I'm done, bro."
This topic has received some thoughts already by the RallyPoint community but it has also go me thinking over the past few days. Newton, a 26 year old NFL MVP, went from being the example of what it means to be a great winner to the example of being the sorest of losers. Now, let me state that I cannot fully blame Cam for his actions. While I think they reflect very poorly on him as a persona and a leader of a sports team, this conference was held within one hour of him seeing his hopes of winning the biggest game in the NFL slip away. His press conference room was just on the other side of the wall from the Broncos where he could hear them celebrating and talking about him and his actions leading up the game. That had to sting a lot. But it serves as a great teaching point for leaders.
As a leader, either in the military or not, you are often placed in situations where all eyes are on you. We see this more than ever right now as people travel city to city, state to state trying to get others to support their race to be the biggest leader in the land; a position that is truly under the largest microscope. Yes, there is a huge difference between being the President of the United States and being the QB of a NFL team; but nonetheless, people will always look to leaders to set a good example. An example of what they want that organization to be. In the military, leaders are viewed in the same light. I cannot being to count the number of hours I spent ensuring that my uniforms looked good, that I had a fresh hair cut and that I worked my hardest to get as many points as I could during a PT test. All in order to set the example of my Soldiers. I felt wrong trying to correct a service member if I did not have myself together. Following the Super Bowl, fan of the Panthers were looking to Cam for some reassurance that the team will bounce back from their second place finish. They wanted to see their QB stand up and take point stating what he felt he could have done better to help his teammates. Instead, they got one or two word answers as their leader sat there with his face covered.
Newton's next mistake came a few days later, when he held a press conference to try and explain his actions during the conference held after the Super Bowl. He tried to say he hated to lose and that losing is very hard on him. I think as a leader, we all face losing and none of us like the taste of it. We never want to see our team not reach their goal. It does not matter what that goal is, working so hard and having that goal on your finger tips only to see it slip by is never easy. Yet we as leaders cannot sit back and say we hate to lose and expect that to explain away our less than professional actions. We must remember that our actions, now more than ever, stick with us. Cam forgot that and no matter how hard he tries, his actions will continue to follow him thanks to the wonders of Google.
Lastly, we as leaders must always be there for our team. It is not about us as the leader but about the team; the guys around us that make us successful. At all levels, the team is why the leader has the success and failure he/she may face. It is the team that gives purpose to have a person in that leadership role. A leader cannot nor will not ever be successful without his/her team. Cam forgot that. His team was hurting, he was hurting, thousands of fans were hurting; but rather than being their for his team; he left them, sitting in chair with his hands on his face. As leader, we must always remember that our team needs us as much as we need them. Our successes and our failures are joint effort. We are unable to do it alone. We are sometimes called upon to suck it up and deal with the issue. And while I cannot fully blame Newton for his public display of his feelings, I think he can learn a lot from it; as a leader does.
This topic has received some thoughts already by the RallyPoint community but it has also go me thinking over the past few days. Newton, a 26 year old NFL MVP, went from being the example of what it means to be a great winner to the example of being the sorest of losers. Now, let me state that I cannot fully blame Cam for his actions. While I think they reflect very poorly on him as a persona and a leader of a sports team, this conference was held within one hour of him seeing his hopes of winning the biggest game in the NFL slip away. His press conference room was just on the other side of the wall from the Broncos where he could hear them celebrating and talking about him and his actions leading up the game. That had to sting a lot. But it serves as a great teaching point for leaders.
As a leader, either in the military or not, you are often placed in situations where all eyes are on you. We see this more than ever right now as people travel city to city, state to state trying to get others to support their race to be the biggest leader in the land; a position that is truly under the largest microscope. Yes, there is a huge difference between being the President of the United States and being the QB of a NFL team; but nonetheless, people will always look to leaders to set a good example. An example of what they want that organization to be. In the military, leaders are viewed in the same light. I cannot being to count the number of hours I spent ensuring that my uniforms looked good, that I had a fresh hair cut and that I worked my hardest to get as many points as I could during a PT test. All in order to set the example of my Soldiers. I felt wrong trying to correct a service member if I did not have myself together. Following the Super Bowl, fan of the Panthers were looking to Cam for some reassurance that the team will bounce back from their second place finish. They wanted to see their QB stand up and take point stating what he felt he could have done better to help his teammates. Instead, they got one or two word answers as their leader sat there with his face covered.
Newton's next mistake came a few days later, when he held a press conference to try and explain his actions during the conference held after the Super Bowl. He tried to say he hated to lose and that losing is very hard on him. I think as a leader, we all face losing and none of us like the taste of it. We never want to see our team not reach their goal. It does not matter what that goal is, working so hard and having that goal on your finger tips only to see it slip by is never easy. Yet we as leaders cannot sit back and say we hate to lose and expect that to explain away our less than professional actions. We must remember that our actions, now more than ever, stick with us. Cam forgot that and no matter how hard he tries, his actions will continue to follow him thanks to the wonders of Google.
Lastly, we as leaders must always be there for our team. It is not about us as the leader but about the team; the guys around us that make us successful. At all levels, the team is why the leader has the success and failure he/she may face. It is the team that gives purpose to have a person in that leadership role. A leader cannot nor will not ever be successful without his/her team. Cam forgot that. His team was hurting, he was hurting, thousands of fans were hurting; but rather than being their for his team; he left them, sitting in chair with his hands on his face. As leader, we must always remember that our team needs us as much as we need them. Our successes and our failures are joint effort. We are unable to do it alone. We are sometimes called upon to suck it up and deal with the issue. And while I cannot fully blame Newton for his public display of his feelings, I think he can learn a lot from it; as a leader does.
Command Post
Leadership
Leadership Development
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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For many in SEC country, including myself, this is not really a surprise. Cam has always been heavy on talent but light on character. He has grown up in the league, he has matured in the league, tried to be a decent role model, but as we can see he still has some growing to do.
In reference to your evaluation of leadership, I think this is relevant to the classic question of whether a leader is made or born? I think there are certain cultural and social conditions that help someone develop character, humility, selflessness and other attributes of good leaders that don't just appear over night, even if taught. Because when things get tough, muscle memory takes over, and you do what is natural. That is why the military puts people in challenging situations to evaluate them for elite units. When your tired, your hungry, and nothing is going according to plan, the true you comes out and those evaluating see who you really are.
In reference to your evaluation of leadership, I think this is relevant to the classic question of whether a leader is made or born? I think there are certain cultural and social conditions that help someone develop character, humility, selflessness and other attributes of good leaders that don't just appear over night, even if taught. Because when things get tough, muscle memory takes over, and you do what is natural. That is why the military puts people in challenging situations to evaluate them for elite units. When your tired, your hungry, and nothing is going according to plan, the true you comes out and those evaluating see who you really are.
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Good post, SGT Ben Keen! I appreciate your perspective on Cam and how it directly applies to leaders in and out of the military.
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SGT Ben Keen
Thank you LTC Jason Strickland. By the way, I'll be in your neck of the woods next month.
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SSG Audwin Scott
Sometimes in order to be successful, you have to go through a broken period in your life. Hopefully this is Cam Newton's broken moment where he can look back and learn how not to do things in the future.
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SSG Audwin Scott
CPT T F - I think he is having a broken moment of being humbled. Even Superman has a weakness and it was kryptonite. So being broken and let's be clear we are not talking financially, but broken in his pride.
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SSG Audwin Scott
CPT T F - The concept of the post was using this story to show the wrong way leadership should act during times of adversity. A true leader not only keeps their head up high in triumphs, but also in defeat.
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