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Tim Tebow: A Leader Who Inspires, Puzzles and Scares People December 12 2011
It’s not often that I write about the same subject twice in less than a month on this blog. Even though I wrote How to Set Your Tebow’s Up For Success just three weeks ago, I’m making a brief exception this afternoon. After the Denver Broncos made yet another comeback yesterday in the last two minutes of regulation and then overtime against the Chicago Bears, Tim Tebow has moved from a national sports story to just a flat out national news story.
For as many people who are inspired by Tebow’s leadership, story and faith, there may be as many who are puzzled by him or are scared of him. I say that for two reasons.
First, from a pure football standpoint, there are a lot of professional commentators who are having their faith in their conventional wisdom challenged. As I noted in the November post on Tebow, to set a guy like him up for success, you have to challenge the conventional wisdom. In any field, not just sports broadcasting, the people who have a lot invested in the conventional wisdom will get angry and scared when it’s challenged. It takes a lot of leadership to go up against that successfully. Kudos to Denver coach Jon Fox and Tebow for doing so.
Second, there aren’t many people who are more upfront about their religious faith than Tebow. When the announcers on yesterday’s game were saying things after the Broncos win like “if you weren’t a believer before this game, you almost have to be now,” I kind of wondered if they were talking about football or faith. The inexplicable can certainly puzzle people. From a pure football standpoint, what Tebow and the Broncos have done the past couple of months is rather inexplicable. It does feel bigger than football. What is it exactly? I thought Frank Bruni gave as good an answer as anyone in the New York Times yesterday when he wrote:
“For Tebow that state of mind comes from his particular relationship with his chosen God and is a matter of religion. For someone else it might be understood and experienced as the power of positive thinking, and is a matter of psychology. Either way it boils down to stubborn optimism and bequeaths a spark.”
Whether you love him, hate him or are scared of him, it’s almost impossible to deny that Tim Tebow is a leader who gets results. What’s your take on how he does it?
Scott Eblin is an executive coach, speaker and author of 
Hi, Scott – - –
I'm definitely rooting for Tim Tebow to continue this amazing run. I'm as puzzled as anyone, since he doesn't seem to have many of the "conventional" gifts usually thought to be "required" for success as a quarterback (classic throwing motion, etc.). I can only surmise that perhaps he has the one thing that is most critical for a quarterback, though … LEADERSHIP ABILITY. It seems as though his intense belief in himself, his team, and their ability to work together and succeed is what allows (enables) him and the team to do just what he expects … find a way to win.
Whatever "it" is and however long it lasts, it's certainly a pleasure to watch (and I'm a Jets fan!!).
Michael Brisciana
Agree with you for sure on the leadership ability, Michael. One thing about the Broncos success is that Tebow's not doing it all by himself. He's got the defense standing up and cheering the offense when the norm in the NFL is for the defense to sit when they're not on the field. When it comes to the fourth quarter, his teammates move into another gear along with Tebow.
How does he do it? Jesus Christ. He is Tim's inspiration, and provides him with the wisdom and power that only God can provide. Like Tim, we too can do all things through Christ who helps us.
Jim, Calgary, AB
My take is that in a professional sport, visualization is key to improvement, but it is also a mindset that can be limiting. Tebow has proven that he is flawed, and that requires the rest of his team to play their best instead of relying on a few key players to carry the team through a game. I also think that Tebow has proven that he will never relent – showing the tenacity reminiscent of a famous practice squad player from Notre Dame named Daniel "Rudy" Reuttiger. Inspiration is an amazing thing, and the flawed leader who can roll up their sleeves and inspire elite professionals with tenacity and dedication has the ring of legend. Good luck and congratulations to the entire Denver Broncos Team.
Jason Monaghan
Ru-dy! Ru-dy! Ru-dy!
Here is a quote from long ago that i think captures much of Tebow's magic: "Experience shows that success is due less to ability than zeal." Charles Buxton, member of British Parliament, brewer, philanthropist, 1823-1871
Great quote. Thanks for sharing Eric.