Roger Goodell
NFL, Commissioner
Fight Complacency
Well I couldn’t be more excited, because the new NFL season kicks off this week! Yeah, that’s right … football is back, baby! And it’s the perfect time to sit down and talk with my friend Roger Goodell, the Commissioner of the National Football League.
He is starting his sixteenth year as NFL Commissioner, and if you follow the news at all, you know Roger has had to make some tough decisions and deal with his fair share of challenges. And of COURSE we’re gonna dig into that during this conversation because there’s a lot we can learn about how he leads. But on the other hand, he’s the chief executive of the most popular pro sports league in the U.S.
That kind of success comes with its OWN challenges. What does great leadership look like when your product is so dang popular? How do you fight against the complacency that often comes when you’re succeeding? Keep listening so you can learn exactly how to keep pushing the status quo, no matter what level of success you’ve achieved.
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More from Roger Goodell
Don't let your success create complacency
When you're successful, it can be challenging to convince your team to keep leveling up. But that's essential if you want to stay at the top.
Listen a lot before making a decision
Making fast decisions isn't always the best approach. Instead, listen first, assess every option to gather data, then make the decision once you have as much data as you possibly can.
To drive engagement, make product quality your priority
With a shorter season, the NFL has found creative ways to drive year-round engagement—for example, making the draft a high-quality event that fans love. If you want to turn customers into fans, find creative opportunities to offer them more value—without sacrificing quality for quantity.
How to get your foot in the door
Persistence opens doors. So keep knocking and seizing every opportunity, no matter how much effort it takes.
Not taking risks can be risky, too
When things are going well, it’s easy to dial back and play it safe. But that complacency is a risk, too. Keep pushing toward what’s next.
Clips
| Clip | Leader | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| How to get your foot in the door | Roger Goodell | 1:07 |
| Set your ego aside to get big things done | Roger Goodell | 0:58 |
| Don't let your success create complacency | Roger Goodell | 0:45 |
| Not taking risks can be risky, too | Roger Goodell | 0:55 |
| Adopt a "win/win" mindset in partner negotiations | Roger Goodell | 1:09 |
| Invite alternate perspectives when you make decisions | Roger Goodell | 0:57 |
| Keep a calm head when you face tough decisions | Roger Goodell | 0:54 |
| Do the right thing no matter the consequences | Roger Goodell | 1:23 |
| The right kind of discipline deepens relationships | Roger Goodell | 1:00 |
| Listen a lot before making a decision | Roger Goodell | 0:51 |
| To drive engagement, make product quality your priority | Roger Goodell | 1:57 |