Organizational Muscle Memory Saved Damar Hamlin’s Life
Cal Ripken, Sr., widely known as the professional ballplayer turned coach who created The Oriole Way, joined Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles as a minor league ballplayer in 1957. He went on to coach, spending 36 years with the organization. Of the many “Seniorism” phrases I’ve heard from Cal Jr. & Bill Ripken, the one that most resonates with me is “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” I never thought of it that way, but Cal Sr. was right. Another mantra floating around the universe is “Amateurs Practice Until They Get It Right; Professionals Practice Until They Can’t Get It Wrong.” While hard to find appropriate attribution, this phraseology also shaped my thinking as it takes optimal performance to another level. Whether a musical performer, professional golfer, or keynote speaker whose livelihood depends on making audiences think, feel and act differently, true pros relentlessly rehearse, so they are ready to meet the moment. Let’s take it one step further when lives are undoubtedly on the line. My Dad was a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger who found himself in numerous jungle warzones during his career. Part of the Ranger Creed reads, “Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight, and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.” When I reflect upon these core beliefs, the following comes to mind: Commitment Excellence Ownership Winning What looked like a routine tackle as millions tuned into that week’s Monday Night Football game quickly escalated into a life-or-death moment. The National Football League’s Buffalo Bills Assistant Trainer Denny Kellington’s quick and decisive actions saved Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s life on January 2nd. Kellington administered CPR and is credited by many for saving Hamlin’s life and preserving his cognitive health. Simply put, Denny Kellington is a hero. How did Kellington so effectively spring into action at 8:55p that horrific night? Unquestionably, the 30 minutes he and others who cared for Hamlin during that crisis positively changed the trajectory of many lives. From the training staff to first responders to coaches to the continuum of healthcare providers and many more, there are many to credit with Hamlin’s survival and remarkable progress. Point blank, Kellington did what he and his staff were trained to do. They didn’t feel their way through the situation, try to figure it out on the fly, look up a series of policies or protocols to see what to do next, or even phone other professionals for advice. They’ve been training for this moment for decades – Kellington recognized the situation, responded with conviction, and fully committed himself to Hamlin. Much like every NFL team has a playbook, so does the training staff – it’s called Organizational Muscle Memory. Whatever team you’re a part of, learn from Kellington. Be predictive, relentlessly train and always be ready to meet the moment…you never know who might need you during life’s most critical times. #lovefordamar
The Power of Crisis Leadership: Protect Your Reputational Piggy Bank – Your Most Important Account
The critical importance and value of crisis leadership has perhaps never been more apparent than it has been during the past few years, as companies across the globe have felt the weight and impact of one societal crisis after another. Each and every time a leader delivers a message – be it a board meeting, media interview, keynote, community meeting, or social platform, their reputational piggy bank sees a light deposit or heavy withdraw. Thinking strategically about what the right message is and how it will resonate with many micro, diverse communities will help assure both your reputational and cash balance pays dividends over time. I’ve learned from so many incredible leaders who communicate spectacularly under duress. It is an art, not a science. The best communicators I know are obsessive about every syllable they utter, piece of clothing they wear, and message point they deliver. They’ve learned how to steer clear of organizational jargon, are detail-oriented and compassionately deliver messages in a conversational manner that quickly and emotionally connects with those who consume their words. They are analytical, well-timed and process loads of information, almost instantaneously. And they are never too high or too low – they have a steady hand under pressure no matter the gravity of the situation or tightness of deadline. They understand the big picture – it’s what they do best – see the whole room and move people to proper perspective, balance and action. Mishandled, crises will cost you time, money, stakeholder confidence, careers, and in the worst of scenarios, freedom and lives. Make no mistake about it, the decisions you make today will be judged by many for years to come. In my view, you don’t spin your way through crisis, you lead your way through. It’s not about shallow window dressing, it’s about long-term sustainable change. Real leaders emerge when the chips are down, and the stakes are at their highest. Let’s face it, anyone can lead when the sun is shining, profits are high and company culture is beaming. After decades of helping people during life’s most critical times, I’ve come to realize that crisis is not to be feared. In fact, crisis is a growth strategy. That’s right, a growth strategy, as counterintuitive as that may sound! Remember this…reputation leads to trust, and trust leads to valuation. YOUR reputation leads to trust and trust leads to valuation…and, not all currency is financial. I’ve had the privilege to critically advise leaders in large health care, academia, financial, legal, hospitality, and insurance organizations, along with many other public, private, government and nonprofit entities who are fighting for their futures. The key is to understand each organization’s navigational fix, where’d they like to be then chart the path forward using a deep well of instinct and experience. Make no mistake, crisis leadership is an art, not a science where every nuance counts, and a predictive mindset is a nonnegotiable asset. To illustrate, I’ve worked with those in the health care space on a myriad of issues, including accusations of patient dumping, mismanagement, sexual harassment accusations and medical malpractice claims, to name a few. There is no shortage of issues to contend with in this industry, and many are insured by captive insurance companies. Generally, those filing claim will lay their case out with an aggressive demand for settlement. Layered into the claim is often the subtly veiled or overt threat of “going public” if the demands are not met. At that point, the health care client, and their legal/risk teams, have a decision to make – do we settle and avoid the court of public opinion or risk reputational damage for the sake (1) saving dollars and/or (2) doing what’s right. This is a tricky balance as the court of public opinion weighs heavily in favor of the plaintiff as their legal team is often first to market, putting the health care organization on defense. Many types of entities evaluate this type of risk while the vice tightens. To manage this dynamic, the forward-thinking legal teams I’ve worked with quickly engage to conduct an analysis of this treacherous traditional and digital landscape – the who, what, where, when, why and how of storytelling – in other words, how will the story land on varying media platforms to the varying micro-audiences who care, and what impact will the news have. Concurrently, there is a ton of due diligence to ensure all of the facts are known; spokespersons are identified and trained; ambassadors, detractors and influencers are accounted for; media market is sized-up and executive alignment is in tow, to name a few dynamics. This is literally a real-time chess game whereby filings or press conferences can occur at any moment. A few critical tips to ensure your reputational piggy bank continues to overflow: Never erode your integrity. Misinformation breeds distrust. There can be an immense pressure to “make your organization look good.” Many want you to press your nose up against the ethical window of truth and transparency. Do not cave into others who would like you to lie, distort the truth or leave vital facts behind which alter messaging and perception—this is tantamount to a lie. Once lost, you will never fully restore your integrity. Be relevant. As the art of traditional and digital press relations evolves within a changing worldwide media landscape, I hear about more and more leaders not returning reporter calls, delaying the release of information and simply refusing to feed the “media monster.” If you choose to stick your head in the sand and not respond, you quickly make yourself irrelevant and ineffective. Remember my mantra, “If you don’t tell your story, someone else will. And, when someone else tells your story, it certainly won’t be the story you want told.” Know the facts. A common mistake of many who speak publicly revolves around not fully preparing and gaining a sound understanding of the facts before articulating their position. Too many times I have seen professionals jump out
