Stop Blaming and Start Training

Learn a lesson from legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi.
Learn a lesson from legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi. (Flickr)

The blame game has no winners.

It doesn't matter who did it. What matters most is the system error that led to the mistake.

Effective leaders look first to see if proper checklists and procedures were in place and followed. Errors lead to the development of process improvement. Systems can be improved at every "fail-point."

Secondly, when the system was not followed, it is likely that mistakes can be tracked back to lack of training. Errors increase as training decreases. The longer the time frame between training events, the more likely it is for errors to increase. During my consulting and training years in broadcasting, one of the first documents I requested when visiting a station was the training schedule and curriculum. I strongly believe a positive correlation exists between training events and frequency of errors.

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It is folly to demand excellence without training.

Training is a process not an event. Leaders cannot expect one training session to have long-lasting residual value. Frequency is a master teacher. It is wise to review errors in consideration of training curriculum and recency of review.

Often, leaders are far ahead of their team and incorrectly assume everyone understands the basics.

It is important to remain mindful of fundamental elements of performance. What are the basics? How often do you remind your team about the first things?

Remember Vince Lombardi, legendary NFL coach of the Green Bay Packers? He began every new season, coaching professional athletes, with his classic training, "Gentlemen, this is a football." Games are won and lost on the execution of basic principles.

Good systems have good checklists. Check your checklists for effective training content. Then deliver it with frequency.

"For though by now you should be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God and have come to need milk rather than solid food" (Heb. 5:12).

Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president of the media group at Charisma Media and executive producer of the Charisma Podcast Network. His book, Love Leads: The Spiritual Connection Between Your Relationships and Productivity, is now available.

Leaders, Dr. Greene wants to help you understand the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity. Read his new blog, here.

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Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.



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