Leadership….. about as good as it gets….
Perhaps, like me, you’re not atop the doings of the Australian Football League. Bear with me for a moment while I give you a bit of background.
The Geelong Cats won the championship a few weeks ago. Their captain, Joel Selwood, played the last game of his storied career as the Cats rolled over their opponent. For us, though, that’s ‘just’ context.
Our story, a leadership moment worth dissecting, came after the game as Selwood and teammates took a victory lap around the stadium. Watch the perhaps 40 second video and then ‘we’ll talk’.
Sam's Moment
Selwood could have made this championship moment, this capstone of a fabled career all about him. Instead, he modeled an approach to leadership that all of us should note well.
As you saw. First, there’s the clear joy that Selwood manifests in finding the Cats’ long serving water boy (Sam Moorfoot, a young man with Down Syndrome). The water boy shows pleasure in the initial, hands raised recognition from Selwood before gazing down sheepishly. Next comes a mutually savored hug and then an eye-popping invitation. After apparent assurance by Selwood, Sam climbs onto the field, helped by Selwood, Selwood’s teammates, and the fans around Sam. Another hug. Then one of Selwood’s teammates, Jeremy Cameron, ‘awards’ Sam Cameron’s own championship medal which precipitates a victory dance from a joyous Sam, who recently had experienced his own team losing in their finals. Yet another hug. Finally, Selwood directs Sam to get his picture taken. The clip ends with Sam Moorfoot clearly enjoying the prospect of being photographed, Selwood’s arm draped around him.
Selwood and Moorfoot, leader and follower, had worked on this moment or series of moments for the years that Sam served as water boy. They developed their relationship and Sam’s with the team. Selwood’s relationship with Moorfoot led to the trust that Sam obviously had in Selwood—the recognition, the hug, and the rule violation (?) to climb on the field. Selwood’s captainship also ran beyond a position or title in his connection with his teammates (as demonstrated by the way they joined in and enhanced this moment) and with the fans (as demonstrated by how they urged Sam on and celebrated his delight with him).
Such moments take time and effort to make possible. They do not spring from press agents. They take keen sensitivity to seize and to expand. Great leaders along with enabled followers make such moments possible just as they do victory on the field of play…and savor them no less.
How long will Sam Moorfoot treasure this moment? For much longer even than the years it took to create. Most tellingly, likely for no longer than will Joel Selwood.
All the best in making your own such leadership moments possible.
(for a bit more background, visit Geelong Captain)