Leadership Lessons from Super Bowl LVI

Key takeaways:

• Do not be afraid of failure.
• As a leader, take chances to defy expectations and go for your goals.
• Perseverance is a non-negotiable for success as a leader; achieving greatness does not come easy.
• Team remains as one of the most valuable words for leaders.

Super Bowl LVI garnered numerous headlines, produced some memorable moments, and provided a few intriguing leadership lessons—all with no shortage of dynamite halftime entertainment or creative commercials.

The big game featured a pair of teams who were both No. 4 seeds at the start of the playoffs, but that did not matter as the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams battled for the title of champion and designation as No. 1 in the world.

So, what did the game teach us about leadership?

Anyone who watched will tell you the game was competitive and that the Bengals and Rams were evenly matched. It was no surprise then, for the Bengals or Rams to have a chance at becoming Super Bowl champions, they had to ‘go for it’ on 4^th down in often improbable situations. In fact, the game was decided in favor of the Rams on a failed 4^th down attempt by the Bengals.

What’s the leadership takeaway here? A leader will need to take chances and not be afraid of failure despite expectations in the pursuit of their goals.

Moreover, perseverance is a non-negotiable for finding success as a leader. In totality, the game was a reflection of the sentiment that achieving greatness does not come easy. Whether it was the loss of a star player due to injury, or an unfortunate mistake leading to points for the opponent, each team battled through adversity. Leaders must be able to preserve in the face of adversity; anything worth having or achieving does not always come easy.

Finally, great leaders stay in character despite the circumstances of their situation. The highlight reel of Super Bowl LVI confirms stars will be stars, but team remains as one of the most valuable words for a leader. Truly: Together Everyone Achieves More. As a leader, acknowledging your own limitations, while recognizing the contributions of those around you, and fostering a team first mentality, will only position everyone for success.

Congratulations to Super Bowl champs, the Los Angeles Rams on winning a hard-fought game. Who Dey? They didn’t win the big game, but their journey inspired and taught us so much along the way.