There is only one way to build a winning team: with the Right People. If the Super Bowl teaches us anything (aside from the fact that RPO can mean Run-Pass Option as well as Recruitment Process Outsourcing), it’s that champions don’t get to the top by chance.
Behind the superstar names and did-he-really-hurdle-that-guy-backwards highlights and the roar of the crowd lies a strategic and philosophical approach to team-building that provides a playbook for any organization. Every company is a team striving for the top spot in its industry, and every one of them knows it’s far from easy to put players in place to get there.
Game on.
Building a winning team presents a universal challenge. Finding the perfect mix of talent—the Right People with the right experience, the right skills, the right cultural fit—can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack (or finding a way to stop Patrick Mahomes in the fourth quarter, for that matter). It’s not enough to simply assemble a group of skilled individuals—true success comes when you have a cohesive unit where everyone is excelling individually while working together toward a common goal.
So as we’re kicking back for kickoff, breaking out the wings and triple-checking our boxes every quarter (“Did I really get 5 and 5 again?”), we’ll also be cheering the way the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have brought together the Right People at every level to get them to the Big Game in New Orleans.
Strategic talent acquisition. Retaining top talent while recruiting new team members. Cultivating a high-performance culture where adaptability is key in achieving enduring success. Leadership. Collaboration and teamwork. Continuous improvement. Professional growth. Efficiency and maximizing resources. Seizing opportunity. Evolving your organization from good to great.
Star players like Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Sequon Barkley and Jalen Hurts. Leaders and team architects like Andy Reid, Nick Sirianni, Steve Spagnuolo and Howie Roseman. Team owners Clark Hunt and Jeff Lurie. They all have wisdom to share, inspiring insights that can help business owners and professionals tackle the challenges around top talent and building winning teams anywhere…
LONG-TERM VISION FOR SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
Clark Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs Owner: “We’re building a culture of sustained success. It’s not about one year, it’s about consistently competing at the highest level.”
Jeff Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles Owner: “As an owner, you have a choice. Do you want to adopt a vision that you think is real sharp and real cutting-edge and could get you from good to great—has a chance—or do you want to just say the organization is not about that, and we’re not going to try to adopt a new coaching philosophy and vision.”
COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles Executive Vice President / General Manager “We’re always trying to find ways to improve, to get better. That’s our mindset every day. It’s about continuous improvement, and that’s the message we preach to our players and our staff.”
AUTHENTICITY IN LEADERSHIP
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback: “I just try to go out there and be myself. I think that’s the best way to lead, by being authentic.”
ALIGNING OBJECTIVES
Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach: “The most important thing is that we're all on the same page, that we're all working together towards a common goal. When you have that kind of unity, you can achieve great things.”
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Steve Spagnuolo, Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator: “Defense is about communication, it’s about being on the same page. If we’re not talking, we’re not going to be successful.”
ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback: “Leadership is about more than just words. It’s about actions, it’s about setting an example, it's about being someone that others can look up to and trust.”
TEAM TRUST
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs Tight End: “You've got to have that trust in your teammates. You’ve got to know they’re going to be there for you, and you’ve got to be there for them.”
WINNING ATTITUDE
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles Running Back: “I came here to win. That's my mindset, that's what I’m focused on. I want to be a part of something special, and I believe we have the potential to do great things here.”
TACTICAL EFFICIENCY
Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach: “Time’s your most valuable asset. You can’t get it back. So, you better use it wisely.”
CORPORATE CULTURE AND CHARACTER
Nick Sirianni: “We have a great culture here, a culture of hard work, accountability and respect. We believe in each other, we support each other, and we push each other to be better.”
CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Jalen Hurts: “I’m always learning, always growing. I’m never satisfied, I’m always striving to be better, to improve my game. That’s the mindset I have, and that’s the mindset I try to instill in my teammates.”
PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Saquon Barkley: “Every day is an opportunity to get better, to learn something new, to grow as a player and as a person. I try to make the most of every opportunity, to take advantage of every day.”
INVESTING IN YOUR TEAM
Howie Roseman: “We believe in investing in our people, in giving them the resources they need to succeed. We want to create an environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.”
COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT
Nick Sirianni: “We’re a family here. We care about each other, we support each other, and we celebrate each other’s successes. That’s what makes this team special.”
MAKE YOUR TEAMMATES BETTER
Patrick Mahomes: “The best quarterbacks are the ones who can make everyone around them better. That’s what I strive to do.”
ADAPTABILITY AGAINST ADVERSITY
Andy Reid: “You’ve got to be able to adapt. Things aren’t always going to go your way. It’s how you respond to adversity that defines you.”
CAMARADERIE AND MUTUAL SUPPORT
Travis Kelce: “I love this team. We’re a family. We push each other, we support each other, and we celebrate each other’s successes.”
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Steve Spagnuolo: “It’s about the details. The little things matter. If you take care of the details, the big things will take care of themselves.”
INVESTING IN RESOURCES AND STAKEHOLDERS
Clark Hunt: “We’re committed to investing in our team, in our facilities and in our fans. We want to provide the best possible experience for everyone involved.”
BE BETTER TOMORROW THAN YOU ARE TODAY
Jeff Lurie: “You never want to plateau out. Getting better every day is my expectation.”
THE BOTTOM LINE
ECLARO: the Right People are the Answer