TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#111 February 12 2007
Welcome to this week's message from the Tunney-Side-Of-The-Street. You are encouraged to share this with fellow workers, family and friends.

After further review...

Did you ever NOT get a job or an assignment you thought you deserved? You knew you were the best qualified, yet somehow weren't selected? Me too! What was your response/reaction? Did you blame the company/organization with the thought that it was a prejudiced decision? Maybe you took the "road" Ron Rivera did recently. Ron is the Defensive Coordinator of the Chicago Bears. He has been a Bear for more than a quarter of a century. After graduating from Seaside High School (Monterey Peninsula, California) Ron attended and played for the Cal Bears. Then onto the Chicago Bears where he played for nine years including Super Bowl XX. Rivera is currently a top candidate for an NFL Head Coaching job and has had several interviews in 2007. No luck - so far. Recently he said, "At some point, I would like to be a head coach, my time will come". I like that - my time will come. He didn't blame it on prejudice or point the finger at those who didn't select him.

Some might say prejudice could be a factor - Rivera is Mexican-American. Ethnicity has taken on a life of its own, since the NFL added the "Rooney Rule" requiring NFL owners to interview minority candidates for a head-coaching position. The rule seems to be working. Would Rivera be given a chance to interview for head coaching jobs, if the Rooney Rule were not in place?

I believe so. Head coaches Herm Edwards (Kansas City Chiefs), Marv Lewis (Cincinnati Bengals), Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears), Tony Dungy (Indianapolis Colts), Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers) are all Black NFL Head Coaches whose time had come. Art Shell (Former Oakland Raiders) and Dennis Green (Former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals) also had earned their way earlier. Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis named Tom Flores Raiders' head coach nearly 30 years ago. Flores was a Raiders' player, assistant coach, and then Head Coach for nine years winning two Super Bowls.

The NFL has made great strides in providing opportunities for ANYONE who has earned the privilege of the head coaching title. Surely in the past some have been overlooked. Owners need to honestly interview and consider all viable candidates with the question does this candidate "fit" my organization, my team and my needs. I believe the NFL has proved the Rooney Rule works. My hope is that the progress continues and that ethnicity is not a primary factor.

Will you look for the proper fit of candidates for your organization?

Look for my book
It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success
For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com
Visit my blog for the entire collection of my Tunney Sides:
http://tunney-side-of-the-street.blogspot.com

ARTICLE TAGLINE FOR JIM TUNNEY, Ed.D., CSP, CPAE

Copyright © 2003 Jim Tunney. All rights reserved.
You can visit Jim's website at http://www.jimtunney.com

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