Who Gets Your Heisman?

The Heisman Trophy will be awarded on December 10—on TV, in front of God and Everyone.  According to the mission on the Heisman website, “The Heisman Trophy recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.  Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance and hard work.”

Now there’s a mission for us all to aspire to, eh?  So what are the exact criteria?  Thursday, on my favorite morning TV show, First Take, ex-NFL, Super Bowl-winning, college football commentator Christian Fauria, listed his 8 Criteria for the Heisman.  The decision is fast-approaching, and his picks vary each week.  Here are his 8; some of which define the ideal employee/team player in the workplace today—the one who should get the reward, the raise, the promotion:

1. Who is the best FOOTBALL player?
2. Eye test.
3. The WHOLE season counts!
4. Stats are important, but not crucial.
5. Don’t wallow in self-pity.
6. When put to the test, can you deliver?
7. Could your team win without you?
8. Do you make people around you better?

Let’s look at number 8—that’s the most important one to me.  This takes time to assess, as does number 3.  That’s why I encourage keeping notes in a file on each of your employees, Ms. Manager, so you don’t become “prisoner of the moment” (I got that from football pundits too).  Evaluate people over time, not on the basis of your last encounter, or the squeaky wheel who sucked up last.

Number 4 is crucial:  the high performer with the glitzy sales or production numbers isn’t necessarily the best team player.  Look at Terrell Owens in the NFL: glitzy reception numbers as a wide receiver, but a destroyer of teams wherever he goes. The perennial question for him is, will he be voted into the NFL Hall of Fame?  We must assess individual performance as part of the whole achievement of company/work team goals.

Numbers 5 and 6 are my favorites.  When the whistle blows and the “play” is over at your workplace, can the person “shake it off” and go on to the next task?  Or do they chew it over and over, sometimes with others on the team?  Distraction!  Not good!  And when the chips are down, all-time low, economy stacked against you, can your candidate FIND A WAY TO WIN?  This is MOST important.  Can they function in the New Normal, and keep their eyes on the goal?  Those who can, deserve the prize.