TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#71 May 8 2006

Thirty-two NFL teams recently held a draft of the best college football players. All teams had the same goal: draft the best player available that would help their team win the Super Bowl. With each team having different needs, coaches and management focused on particular player(s) who would make an impact now as well as in the future.

Would it be Williams (Texans), Bush (Saints), Young (Titans), Ferguson (Jets), Hawk (Packers), Davis (49ers), Huff (Raiders), Witner (Bills), Sims (Lions), or Leinart (Cardinals)? Those were the top 10 draft choices for teams who had the worst won-lost record in 2005 and none of whom made the playoffs. How do coaches and management know which college players will make an impact? And what about the players drafted numbers 11-99 or 100-199 or even 200-255? Will they even make the team?

History is replete with outstanding college players who did not make an impact in the NFL. In fact, more than one-third of the Heisman Trophy winners (awarded the top college player) did not have a successful NFL career. Why is it then that the top college player isn't also a top NFL player? Many reasons.

Since the NFL keeps only the best, the answer lies in a coach's ability to develop a T*E*A*M out of outstanding individuals. That's called chemistry and teamwork. Then, too, athletes develop later in their playing careers. Studies show that a man in his mid-twenties is probably at his optimum athletic ability.

My point is this: Don't give up on people too soon! As I work with businesses and corporations about building better teams and increasing productivity of their "players" (read: employees), I strongly recommend not to give up on people too soon. Potential is not always immediately visible, Take Joe Montana (2000 NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame); Joe was drafted in the 3rd round. Some 60 players chosen ahead of him. Yet, Joe was a 3-time Super Bowl MVP.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots QB, was drafted 199th! 198 players drafted before Brady, who went on to win three Super Bowls and MVP in two of them. What "geniuses" overlooked these two? No, I'm not assessing blame, just emphasizing that it is not easy to predict success.

In recruiting people for your T*E*A*M, (draft if you will), it is important to look for individuals who bring a no-quit attitude, a positive approach to succeeding, a work ethic second-to-none, and are coachable.

Will you give those with latent talent a chance and not give up on them too soon?

Look for my new 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 NEW blog: http://tunney-side-of-the-street.blogspot.com

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

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