Celebrating success and honoring achievement is an important aspect of leadership but, if you want to be successful over the long run, you can’t spend too much time resting on your laurels.
Bill Belichick, arguably the best football coach in NFL history, knows this first hand. The day after his team celebrated their latest Super Bowl win with an extravagant party where the players received their Super Bowl rings, he made it very clear the party was over.
“You know, we’ve had enough parades, enough celebrations and enough everything. This 2017 team hasn’t done anything yet — none of us have. We really need to focus on what we’re doing this year. There have been a lot of great moments in the past, which is great, but that isn’t going to help us this year.” Bill Belichick
Acknowledging the success of the past and ensuring your team understands the realities of the present is a critical leadership skill to master after a big win. Landing that big order was great but you need to meet the customer’s expectations now and in the future.
What do you think? Is it possible to let winning go to your head? Is Belichick right to close the chapter on the past and set expectations for the future? Do you know of companies or organizations who rested too long on their achievements? Let me know in the comment section below.