by Peter A. Arthur-Smith, Leadership Solutions, Inc.®
“Peerless Patriots will give Bellichick record 5th title,” George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel Sports Columnist, February 5th, 2017.
“High-flying Falcons will get dynasty-busting win,” Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel Sports Columnist, February 5th, 2017.
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Two sports journalists traded their Superbowl barbs on the Orlando Sentinel’s front sports-page section. Their columns were side by side. Also, their banter was not particularly polite or sportsman like, as they trotted-out their biased forecasts of how their team would win. Naturally they were glowing about the positive attributes of “their team” and obviously lambasted the opposing side…despite each team having done incredibly well to get to the Superbowl final. So much for sports-journalism.
Then there were early TV sightings of the two team coaches on the sidelines as the game got under way. Dan Quinn, the Falcons coach, pacing backward and forward, shouting encouragement to his players; gesticulating in all manner of ways when game-
calls were not going the Falcons’ way or players were not performing to his liking. Opposite to that was Bill Bellichick, the Patriot’s coach, who walked at a crawling-pace along his sideline with an expressionless face and taking the occasional note. At least he was up for his fifth Superbowl win.
Falcons’ players took charge during the first half and racked-up 21 points to the Patriots 3. The Falcons team seemed to be fielding a young, dynamic team, who appeared to master the Patriots at every turn. They added to their score early in the third-quarter taking the score to 28-3. Now the question was, “How big would the Falcon score be at the final bell, as they seemed to be steamrolling to victory?”
It didn’t happen. Tom Brady, the Patriot’s quarterback, started to find his receivers. His forward line started giving him greater protection. His team began to find its offensive rhythm. Meantime, the Patriot’s defensive team began to find its form as the top NFL defensive side. It began to frustrate and squelch the talented Falcons offense.
At full-time the Patriots had miraculously tied the game at 28-28. Never before in Superbowl history had a team come from so far behind to create the first ever overtime play. The Falcons had been stopped dead in their tracks after their 28 point score. After a short break, both teams headed into a 15 minute overtime play and it was the Patriots who came out on top with a final touchdown for 34 points. What happened?
Was it the difference in coaching styles? Was it the difference in player experience? – The Falcons had a highly talented, young side, including its capable quarterback, Aaron Young; while the Patriots appeared much more seasoned with a record-breaking quarterback, Tom Brady. – Was it the difference in preparation? Did one team have a better game-plan than the other? Was it the difference in teams feeling a greater sense of empowerment to play the game the way the situation warranted? Was the game pretty much decided on these factors before either team stepped onto the field?
Your writer now wishes to make the case that is was probably the difference between PEACAM and CIGFAM, in the way that the two teams were motivated, that likely decided the game before it was played. Notwithstanding that the Patriots had some real scary moments during the first half, but they ultimately sustained their poise, experience and leadership to help them win the day. We discussed the differences between PEACAM and CIGFAM in our recent Phase 3 – Enlightened People Engagement article. Now we can apply it.
Drawing upon the acronym PEACAM, it is possible to see that:
» P= a sense of Purpose – The Patriots likely had a far bigger reason to prevail. Other than to be viewed as the winning side, they also wished to put their “Deflategate” controversy behind them once and for all.
» E= feeling of Equality – Bellichick’s players really appreciated their coach because he wasn’t yelling at them from the sideline. At all times he treated them with respect and a sense of dignity as he felt they knew what they were doing. He also had a reputation of kidding around with them off the field to build solid relationships.
» A= passion for Achievement – Patriot’s players were not looking for stardom. They wanted to succeed together.
There was a sense that the less experienced Falcons’ players liked gloating and strutting around on their individual successes.
» C= pull of Camaraderie – Patriots players later recorded that they stuck together despite their early setbacks. Perhaps the Falcons were still learning to pull-together and hang-in there when the going gets tough.
» A= joy of Autonomy – With the antics of Coach Quinn on the sideline, it wasn’t quite clear how much he trusted his players to empower them. Apparently, Bellichick said very little to his team at half-time, despite their big deficit. Maybe he had greater faith in his players, than Quinn did in his, to find a way back.
» M= comfort of Mastery – Besides having a renowned quarterback in Tom Brady, maybe greater overall preparation and skill-mastery threw the game the Patriot’s way in vital moments during the third and fourth quarters. They were better at executing plays, certainly in the second-half, when it came to extra-point plays after three touch downs.
On the other hand, it appeared that Falcons worked the usual CIGFAM motivational game. Where C= Competition – Falcons seemed aggressively competitive, which can often wither when under pressure. I= Incentives –A young relatively inexperienced side is likely to over-glow the financial gains of winning. G= Goals – A team obsessed with goals could potentially cool-off when it is so far ahead of its agenda. F= living in Fear – Judging by the Falcons Coach’s sideline antics, an observer is likely to wonder what might be in store if a player made the wrong move. A= Accountability – Too much accountability can seem like an awesome responsibility when you’re a young player. M= Measurement – It wouldn’t surprise this writer if Falcons players felt they were being measured every-way, which-way. That can wear a little thin after a while.
During the after-game commentator analysis with some of the Patriots, it appeared that they always saw their win as inevitable. They just had to figure it out. Even so, it wouldn’t surprise this writer if it all came down to the difference between PEACAM and CIGFAM, and how the former forged a much more compelling team spirit than the latter – despite traditional thinking.
To learn more about team-play, talk with: