Turn Arounds Are a Team Effort.
I was four years old the last time my team was champion. During my time as a fan, they had a year with zero wins. They always found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Some fans who did attend their games at the stadium wore bags over their faces. The popular refrain was that until the Ford family sold the team, we were destined to suffer through the same old Lions.
As I write this, this team just won it’s eight straight game bringing their record to 10-1 tying their best record set in their inaugural season - 1934. How did this happen? A Ford is still at the helm. But it’s a new one.
Sheila Ford Hemp Ford officially took over succeeding her mother on June 23, 2020. One of her very first initiatives was the creation of a Culture Task Force to enhance employee engagement and alignment. She assembled a leadership team and empowered them to lead. Her vision for a rebuild focused on disciplined decision-making, long-term planning and strong leadership.
If your organization is stuck in a death spiral or stuck in underperformance, take a look at what inspired and enabled this turnaround — number one Culture Change.
The first hires for the new culture were General Manager Brad Holmes and Head Coach Dan Campbell in January 2021. The team went 3-13-1 that year. Turnarounds and success are not overnight affairs.
Brad Holmes brought new characteristics to the rebuilding and culture change. He is gifted at strategic talent evaluation making sure he has the right people in the right seats who fit the new culture. He has a talent for decisive and cost-effective moves. Some great talent has been sent off to their competitors in order to build long-term sustainability and improving depth and chemistry. He’s a collaborative leader who creates and communicates a cohesive vision for the team’s direction which enables effective implementation of their plans. His focus on building a balanced and deep roster has made a huge difference to build a genuine NFL powerhouse team.
Apply discipline, smart decision-making and teamwork in a collaborative spirit to create your winning culture.
Dan Campbell’s leadership style is defined by his authenticity, relatability and his ability to develop new talent while challenging the All-Pro talent on his team. He’s able to leverage his experience as a former player to understand the challenges that players face and connect with them effectively.
Campbell brings authenticity and empowerment to encourage his players and staff to take ownership of their roles. As a former player, he knows when to push his team and when to provide rest fostering a culture that prioritizes well-being alongside team success. Because of the culture he has built, the Lions are now an attractive destination for free agents and top talent who want to join this winning team.
You can apply these traits to turn an underperforming organization into a top producer. Focus on culture, building trust and having an authenticity that can demand excellence while maintaining relatability.
Ben Johnson, the Offensive Coordinator has an ability to maximize player strengths and creating one of the top offenses in the NFL. His “business plans” (game plans) emphasize creativity with strategic and risk-taking.
Defensive Coordinator, Aaron Glenn has instilled a culture of resilience, adaptability and disciplined play. He has created a “next man up” mentality where every player is prepared to step into a starting role. Like Campbell and Johnson he leverages the strengths of his personnel and has a commitment to continuous improvement.
Moving from a 3-13-1 record in 2021, these leadership changes have built a turnaround that we can learn from and take away business lessons.
Focus on creating a culture of winning - GRIT, Resilience, Self-Belief. Be authentic. Inspire the best out of all of your stakeholders by building on their strengths.
Make 2025 your year of resurgence!
Paul Kiewiet MAS+ is an industry speaker, writer, consultant and coach. Kiewiet was inducted into the PPAI Hall of Fame and the MiPPA Hall of Fame. He served as Chairman of PPAI in 2007. A former distributor, he founded Promotion Concepts, Inc in 1982 and worked with some of America’s most valuable brands including Coca-Cola, Kelloggs, and Whirlpool.