Be you. This is me.
Be you. This is me.
Last night on Sunday Night Football, sports fans who were listening and/or paying attention late in the game got an insightful glimpse into Matt Nagy, rookie 40-year old head coach for the Chicago Bears.
Chris Collinsworth and Al Michaels are always great on the call, and last night even in somewhat of a snoozer they still added great color to an otherwise ho hum game; unless, of course, you’re a Bears fan. Chris told a quick story about Matt Nagy’s “Be You” mantra he brought to Chicago this past June when he arrived on campus as head coach. Chris pointed out the “Be You” sticker on Matt Nagy’s play card and told a quick story behind it. Coach Nagy’s son had told his dad, “Dad, just be you…” when he went to interview for the Bears head coach job.
Not only did Matt Nagy take his son’s advice and obviously get the job, he also brought that mantra, culture, and mentality to the Bears.
He has a 23-year old, rookie quarterback, and lets him literally be himself – running for first downs and more when plays break down, whenever he wants! He trusts his lottery pick, young talent. Only three players on the team are over the age of 30, and by all accounts, everyone embraces the culture and appreciates the opportunity to breathe, be themselves, and go out and perform.
Why?
They obviously feel, at once, welcome, comfortable, and important!
Here’s a link to an article which says it all, and it’s from back in June, before the Bears of 2018 really became “the Bears of 2018”. I’ll let you peruse that one and others, as it’s quite inspiring for both sports fans and leaders. The Bears are leading their division, tops in the NFC North, at 7-3 heading into the annual Thanksgiving Day football theater at the Lions.
Many people asked me years ago, “Why did you start a blog? How do you make money on that?” I don’t. I simply like to write, and I tend to like encouraging people. My bad.
Former leaders of mine have often told me, “You’re being too soft on people. You’re writing your little emails to them, and I’m sure you mean well but they don’t care; and they probably don’t even read them. Instead of your notes you need to write them up and call them out.”
However, others have told me, “Thank you for the note of encouragement. I love your messages.”
Once when I left a job, a person on my team at the time was so genuine and so real and so kind when she looked me in the eye and asked, “…but will you still email me?”
I still do. And I won’t stop.
I won’t stop encouraging.
Every single person needs encouragement.
Every single person needs support.
Every single person needs love.
Every single person was uniquely created and every single person is uniquely beautiful, in their own way.
Leaders who lead with hospitality accept people for who they are as opposed to what they’ve accomplished or contributed. They look for and appreciate everyone’s unique beauty. In doing so, they truly inspire everyone’s best effort and maximum performance.
People are at their best when they’re able to be themselves. The quickest way to create a “Be You” culture is to make them feel welcome, comfortable, and important. Many leaders “say” they do this. Very few actually do it.
That’s why I wrote Lead With Hospitality. We need more “Be You” cultures. It just takes leaders secure enough in their own skin to inspire and encourage others to be secure in theirs.
So just be you.
This is me.
Have a great Thanksgiving week.
Taylor
About the Author:
Founder and Visionary of Lead With Hospitality, LLC, Taylor’s worked for notable brands in hospitality including Disney, Wynn Resorts, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Gaylord Hotels, Disney Vacation Club, and more. He graduated from Florida Southern College, earning a BS in Business Administration. He also earned a Masters of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University. An author, inspirational keynote speaker, dynamic corporate trainer, and independent hospitality consultant, Taylor resides in beautiful Dana Point, California with his wife, Jenna.
Taylor is the author of the best-selling book, Ballgames To Boardrooms: Leadership, Business, and Life Lessons From Our Coaches We Never Knew We Needed as well a his forthcoming second book, Lead With Hospitality.
