The NFL Draft shows us the value of 1 person.
Last week when flipping through the TV channels, I couldn’t help but be fixated on the NFL 
Draft. When you sit down and think of all of the moving parts from start to finish for the NFL draft, it’s incredible. Coaches and teams analyze exactly the players they need and map out statistical strategies of how and when to draft them.
Somewhere in between watching the emotional reactions of the families and players, to hearing the coaches excitement in their voices speaking on their newest draft pick…
…I started thinking about what a galvanizing event the NFL Draft is for a team.
Think about it. So much faith and motivation is behind this 1 person being selected for the team. This underlying “hope” that this 1 person will change things, and make things better.
It’s incredible to think about the high value that is placed on 1 person.
I started extrapolating these thoughts…
- Do businesses understand the total effect of 1 person? 1 human; not software, not a system. How a new hire can effect not only their everyday business but shape the culture? Leaders within businesses could also learn something from the NFL in the sense that the “socialization” of adding a new hire is important, so the entire team feels comfortable and confident of how they fit in.
- I also started thinking about how 1 person does have the power to change any team in my life. I’m on several teams already; the company I work for is a team, I play on an indoor recreational soccer team, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party steering committee is a team …all these teams are in my life.
The NFL draft reminded me that 1 person can make a difference on any team or organization. And the selection of a team member shouldn’t ever be taken lightly or undervalued. The same is true about integrating and socializing a new team member in your life. What’s your take?
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I think this depends on the culture of the organization you're talking about. There are agile organizations that champion the input of individuals and have established the kind of culture in which those contributions are valued. There are also organizations that believe strongly that their process(es) are so robust that the individuals working ... See Moreinside of them are, essentially, interchangeable given a baseline level of competency. There are multiple examples of success down both roads; even in the NFL you have "system" coaches (Mike Shanahan, Tony Sparano) and "player" coaches (Josh McDaniels, Bill Belichick) . From an employee's point of view the former is more desirable in that you (more or less) control your own destiny and are more invested and valued in the organization; from an executive/management point of view, the latter is probably preferable in that your success doesn't hinge (more or less) on a single person.
A great deal of this also hinges on the function the person performs. If it's a role of great autonomy, then of course the person matters. If it's a "put widgets into a box" job, then it doesn't matter who does it. You see that in the draft as well. Skill positions (QB, receivers, DB, LB) are more highly valued and will be drafted in greater numbers sooner in the draft, while those positions considered less skilled (offensive, defensive lineman, tight ends) are taken in fewer numbers early and viable choices will likely be around in the later rounds.
I have now, officially, thought too much about this.
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