Monica D. Livingston’s Post

Leadership matters. Football is a good analogy to business. They are both hierarchical organization where talent and team is critical to winning. Let's take a look at some recent examples where leadership matters. Being from the DC area, I have watched the Commanders be a losing team for the last couple decades. This year, they go all of a sudden to having a winning 7-3 season and poised to make the playoffs. All due to talent and leadership changes. New owner, new head coach and a talented rookie quarterback. All changes at key leadership position that has led to the success. Conversely the Jets are doing the opposite. Talented team but bad leadership at all levels. Bad owner, fired head coach and a talented QB with bad leadership. This has lead to a losing season and a disaster for the Jets. Teams who have good leadership, bring in talent and are stable tend to win. It works in football and it works in business.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 🏆 The NFL playoffs aren’t just about talent—they’re about teamwork, trust, and execution under pressure. It’s the perfect metaphor for success in the workplace. 💼 Great teams—on the field or in the office—don’t succeed on individual effort alone. They thrive on: 🔥 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Like calling audibles mid-game, clear communication aligns everyone toward a common goal. 🔥 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 – No matter what play your opponent calls, teams must pivot when challenges arise. 🔥 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 – Every great play starts with believing in the person next to you. At Venice Solutions Group, we help businesses build their own championship culture by fostering these same skills. Because in the game of business, it’s not just about strategy—it’s about the team that brings it to life. What’s your team doing to make it to the next level? Let’s talk! 💬 #Teamwork #Leadership #SoftSkills #CompanyCulture #NFLPlayoffs #WinningTeams #VeniceSolutionsGroup

It’s that time of year—NFL Playoff Season! Just like in business, the playoffs are all about strategy, teamwork, and executing when it matters most. As we gear up to see who takes the field with precision and passion, I can’t help but draw some parallels to the workplace: ▪️ The Playbook: Success requires a solid plan—whether it’s a game-winning drive or a new retention strategy. ▪️ The Team: Every great achievement depends on collaboration, trust, and knowing each player’s strengths. ▪️ The Coach: Leaders set the tone and inspire their teams to push beyond their limits (no halftime pep talks required, but it wouldn’t hurt). Who’s your pick to win it all this year? Drop your predictions below, and let’s talk football—or even better, how we can bring a little playoff energy into our work lives!

NFL Playoffs + Leadership: A Weekend Must-Read: I won’t summarize this book because doing so would diminish its value for you. The true takeaways lie in how it challenges your current views, opinions, and understanding of leadership. Add this book to your library—you won’t regret it. Here’s what I’ll leave you with: never pursue a leadership position for the title, the money, or because someone hands it to you without direction. Instead, take the time to understand why you want to lead. Leadership isn’t given; it’s earned through purpose, clarity, and intention.

If you watched last night’s heated game between the #Padres and the #Dodgers in Los Angeles, there was a moment before the 8th inning when the San Diego Padres came together in their dugout for an impromptu huddle. It wasn’t called by their Manager; it was led by team leader #MannyMachado. If you’ve followed Manny’s career, you know he has been on a journey, evolving from "player" to "All-Star" to "leader." When you have the ability to bring together a team full of Type A personalities and unite them for a single, shared cause, you're doing something right. This #NLDS series has a long way to go, but this rare mid-game huddle was exactly what the team needed at the time. This is what #leadership looks like. Now, think about your business. Is there an out-of-the-ordinary huddle you need to call with your Type A personalities? Do whatever it takes to focus the team and align them under a single vision. P.S.: The Padres went on to win last night, evening the best-of-five series at 1-1. They scored 6 runs and hit 4 homers in the two innings following the huddle. The sole goal of leadership is #Believership.

When I played in the NFL, every season ended with exit meetings—team-wide, with defense/offense, and one-on-one with position coaches. These meetings were a chance to reflect on the season and prepare for what’s next. Step into 2025 with clarity, confidence, and purpose. The calendar changes, but what do you change? Growth requires intention. Decide now what you’ll do differently to align with your goals. Be the example. Show up fully available, present, and as the best version of yourself—not just for you, but for those watching and learning from you.   Action Items   Reflect on 2024: Answer these key questions to set the foundation for growth: What were my biggest wins? What were my biggest losses? What’s one thing I didn’t do that I wish I had? What’s one thing I did that I want to stop doing?   Set your intention for 2025: Choose your One Word for the year that will guide your decisions and focus. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin   “If nothing changes, nothing changes. You want change, make some.” – Courtney C. Stevens

On Saturday night, my best friend reminded me, “we win some, and we lose some.” No, she was not talking about the election—she was talking about the LSU/Alabama football game. As a fan watching from the stands, it felt like the game was won and lost before the players even took the field. Even with the incredible atmosphere in Tiger Stadium, you could sense a difference on the Alabama sideline: a fierce drive, a hunger, a “must-win” mentality that eclipsed my Tigers’ energy. This got me thinking about how often leaders lose their teams in their own “locker rooms.” I see too many so-called “leaders” more concerned with appearances or saying the “right things” other than with truly leading their people. Somewhere in that focus on image, they lose sight of those who counts on them—their employees, their team. Unfortunately, it is often only after their employees leave to join other teams, they realize this. I understand that leadership is not easy. True leaders listen, make decisions, and serve as coaches, teachers, and mentors. They are humble, thankful, and determined. While many aspire to be leaders, not everyone is suited for the role, and the organizations that fail to recognize this timely, often pay the price. Now, do I think my LSU football team works hard? Absolutely! And I know they balance many responsibilities beyond football. But watching that game, it was clear that somewhere between the locker room and the field, Alabama’s players found a motivation, a fire. They did not want to let down Coach DeBoer, especially in Death Valley against a former National Championship team with playoff implications on the line. Does this make me an Alabama fan? Not at all—unless they are playing a non-SEC team (lol). I will keep cheering “Geaux Tigers,” bleeding purple and gold, and supporting my team through it all. I know my Tigers, if not this season, will return to championship form soon enough. The question is, who will be the leader to step up and get them there? You can ask yourself the same question about your company, your team: if it is not reaching its playoffs, who will be the leader to drive it there? Or, will you transfer to join a team with a leader/coach who will bring out your passion for success and reignite your passion to win? 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿-𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 Recently, my son Aaron Feinberg called with an invitation that made my day—a last-minute ticket to see the Yankees in the playoffs. He’d landed tickets as a surprise through a heartwarming story his partner uncovered, and I was the first person he thought to invite. Standing in that stadium together, cheering for a team we’ve rooted for over decades, I realized that these shared experiences are more than just a pastime. They’re a reminder of how family—like great teams—thrives on being there for one another, offering encouragement, laughter, and strength through thick and thin. The best part? That same value of unity applies to the work I do in leadership coaching. Just as family bonds lift us up, strong leaders empower their teams by being present, listening, and staying true to shared values, even when circumstances are challenging. I encourage my clients to lead with empathy and resilience, showing up for their teams in ways that go beyond the boardroom. It’s about creating a legacy that echoes the same kind of support we value in our personal lives. How do you bring family values into your approach to leadership? #leadershipdevelopment #Leadershipcoaching #thoughtleadership

Hundreds of industry leaders subscribe to my weekly newsletter covering operating & leadership topics. This next edition will speak to a timely topic: LAYOFFS. Sneak peek & subscribe👇 My weekly newsletter is out every Saturday and covers a range of operating and leadership topics, from scaling customer success functions to quality to building high performing teams. 📉 This weekend, the topic is performance. Not the good kind either. Hot on the heels of some news from a past employer of mine, I'm sharing perspective on how leaders need to respond to layoffs, how to support their teams, and above all how to get the business back on track. And there's more... I am also sharing advice for leaders and employees on how to keep your eyes open 👀 and understand the link between performance and company decisions. Because if you're paying attention, layoffs should never come as a surprise. 🫣 🔜 Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/etUYGhsD The newsletter drops Saturday morning.

My all-time favorite management quote is from the legendary Peter Drucker: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." If you missed it Sunday, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had sealed the game and a spot in the playoffs. The game was over, and the team had to run a couple of meaningless plays to run out the clock. However, there was something big on the line. Their star wide receiver was 5 yards short of doing something only one wide receiver had ever done- 1,000 yards in 11 straight seasons. On top of that, if he picked up the 5 yards, he received a 3 million dollar bonus for the year. Instead of downing the ball and ending the game, they threw to him so he could tie the record and get his bonus. While that was awesome, the thing that really caught my attention was how the team reacted. A couple of takeaways from all of this: - The organization cares deeply about its players. - The players care just as much about each other. The Buccaneers didn't just win the game; they showed what a winning culture looks like. Moments like this show why culture matters. Take a break from analyzing deals today, and ask yourself what kind of culture you are building. The right one, like the Buccaneers have, will close a lot more deal and make your time at work a lot more enjoyable.