On Sunday, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick passed George Halas to take the sole position of second place on the list of most victories for an NFL coach.
It was a big deal.
In the post-game locker room celebration, Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke glowingly of Belichick and presented him with the game ball.
Belichick’s singular response:
“I’ve told you, and it’s the truth now: Players win them. Players win games. Alright? I’m glad we have a lot of good players on this team.”
It shouldn’t be so surprising to see a leader handle achievement and accolades with such humility. It shouldn’t be surprising to see a leader pass the credit for his success onto his people.
This is what leaders are supposed to do. It’s Leadership 101.
But lately, thanks in large part to the fragile, narcissistic, self-serving needs of certain political and corporate leaders in the public eye, this kind of behavior has become far less common.
Instead, self-congratulations, incessant boasting, lying about accomplishments that never happened, exaggerating about those that did, and speaking about oneself in the third person have become far more commonplace in American society.
It’s a damn shame.
So when I see a leader acting like a leader, expressing humility, deference, and self-confidence, I take solace in the knowledge that perhaps real leadership is still alive and well in America today, and maybe I’m just not seeing it as often as I’d like.
I hope so.
