There’s no team in T.O.
Let me be clear. As a lifelong fan of the New York Giants, I take a certain measure of delight watching our NFC East Division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, implode under the ego of wide receiver Terrell Owens and his self-centered antics. Hopefully it will cause them to spiral out of contention allowing my Giants to win the division easily.
But as a football fan and a student and teacher of organizational management skills, I watch this latest episode with the mindset of a manager forced to deal with an employee who just isn’t fitting in.
If you’re not up on this story, you’re either not a football fan or have been living in a cave somewhere. Read the background story to get caught up.
Owens just can’t embrace the team concept. Like the spoiled brat who whines incessantly until he gets his way, he insists on mouthing off and alienating his teammates. In one of the most team-oriented of sports, with 52 teammates, he doesn’t seem to understand it’s not all about him.
In fact, if he had a clue, he’d know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Eagles are quarterback Donovan McNabb’s team. They were before Owens arrived last season and they will continue to be long after he’s gone, which should be any day now.
In business, there are employees who are competent and fun to work with; competent and not fun to work with; incompetent and fun to work with, and incompetent and not fun to work with.
The last group--incompetent and not fun to work with--are easily fired. They contribute little and cause disruption. Get rid of them. The first group--competent and fun to work with--are a joy to have in your organization. They contribute and help foster the team concept.
The two in the middle pose challenges for managers. The incompetent and fun to work with, while not contributing to programmatic goals, can help keep the work environment light and enjoyable. They may even be able to learn minimal skills or tasks that allow them to contribute in specifically focused projects.
But the competent person who is not fun to work with is a hard nut to crack. Their skills clearly contribute to the bottom line. They bring tangible results. But the price is often a divided worksite, unnecessary drama and tension, self-absorbed behavior and questions about whether or not it’s all worth it. Terrell Owens is this type of employee.
The Eagles have a legitimate deep threat when he’s in the game. He has the ability to get open and make things happen after the catch. But he is a polarizing force in their locker room, who has worn out his welcome. He’s a drop of piss in the punch bowl. Guys like Owens need to learn that no player is indispensible. The Eagles can survive without him and they will. But the way he’s ruined his own reputation, will any other team take a chance on him? Will he survive without football? I hope they let him find out.
UPDATE: Monday, the Eagles told T.O. to take a hike.
Posted by bernie at November 6, 2005 3:54 PMTrackBack
Bernie, great post! By the way, I'm a Giants fan too!!!!! :)
Posted by: Derrick at November 8, 2005 3:57 PM