How to Beat the Credit Game

Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on winning the ultimate prize in the NFL.  After a grueling regular season in which they lost four games, the Chiefs continued to face adversity in the postseason, rallying from deficits in all three playoff games to capture the Vince Lombardi trophy. 

Now the hard part happens. 

How does the team keep its focus? How does it stay motivated? Most of all, how does the camaraderie between players and between coaches continue to thrive? Because after winning, people often want credit, and egos can easily get in the way.  

Who gets the credit, who takes ownership of the wins, who stands in front of everyone accepting all the applause? Pat Riley, former NBA coach and now president of the Miami Heat, labeled this behavior among teammates as “The Disease of Me.” He cited six symptoms for leaders to examine in their team members’ actions after winning.

How does a leader handle success or the disease of me? How does a leader react when someone above him or her like the owner or the chairmen of the board of directors appears for their moment in the glory? How does a leader not become intoxicated by his or her achievements?

Here are 6 steps to help you overcome the credit game:

1. Understand WHY you won — the real reason, not the popular one. Take time to analyze the answer to this question. Ask yourself, could this team as constructed now, become a dynasty? Most often, the answer is no. Understand your “why.”

2. Dare to Rebuild. Use the foundation of success to springboard into something more sustainable. Change kills the credit game. Change for change's sake is not good, but changing for longer-term success can sometimes be best after winning, not losing. It will ground everyone’s ego. 

3. Raise the Bar. The only way to develop competitive stamina is to challenge people to become better, to reach new heights. Demand more of yourself, then demand more of the team.

4. Go Leaner. Stay lean as an organization. Add young talent that promotes teaching. It will be through the actual teaching of the culture that will allow the winning culture to continue to grow and further develop. Lead by matching a moment to the message. 

5. What Won’t Change? Jeff Bezos of Amazon never focuses on the changes that might occur five years from now; he only focuses on what won’t change in five years. What are your constants? Make sure you know what won't change and become stronger in those areas each day. 

6. Strength Brings Strength. Build on Strength. How do you stop your best player’s ego from getting out of control? Find another player with the same skill set and watch them compete against one another.

Handling success is a hard job. Beating the credit game requires more than just conversations about putting the team first. It requires action, and these six action steps can help refocus your team even after it’s reached the pinnacle!

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