Roger Goodell’s NFL personal conduct policy is a leadership failure
Roger Goodell’s NFL personal conduct policy was destined to fail from the beginning. So far, 16 players have been suspended since he took over in 2006. Here is the policy as it is written today.
“While criminal activity is clearly outside the scope of permissible conduct, and persons who engage in criminal activity will be subject to discipline, the standard of conduct for persons employed in the NFL is considerably higher. It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime. Instead, as an employee of the NFL or a member club, you are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the League is based, and is lawful.
Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime.”
People will ask, how can it be a failure, he has suspended 16 players. At face value, it seems like it is working. It is a well thought-out, well-written and well-constructed policy.
Roger Goodell
But that is the problem with policy. They all seem to be well written and are laden with good intentions. The other problem is that people confuse these well-written management tools as leadership.
In reality, the NFL gives lip service to high “standards of conduct” and to conduct “that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the League is based.” Oh yeah, “and is lawful.”
By the way, what are the NFL’s conduct policy’s core “values” based upon? Are these written somewhere? Do the players, coaches, and owners have access to them? Or are they some floating, randomly assigned group of words and ideals chosen to fit the mood of the commissioner?
You cannot influence the hearts, minds and souls of people through policy making or through the implementation of rules. Reprimanding; making new management policy; and punishment for mistakes already made is not leadership. They are knee jerk reactions to bad situations and not correcting the deficiencies or underlying problems.
Yes, I realize, these policies are good for bloggers and the punishment dished out makes great headlines and give the perception that the league is doing something. But, what good is a policy when 99 percent of the players in the NFL followed it anyway? And for the guys who don’t follow the rules, a new policy or threat of punishment means absolutely nothing.
There is no quick solution, but that is the problem. Making policy and rules is an easy way out and a quick way to give the perception of action and attention to a problem.
But, it is not a fix. Fixing or mitigating the problem takes a vision and strength beyond what the NFL and Goodell are willing to do.
It takes a leader that has that vision and strength to do some unpopular things. It will take a leader who is willing to build for the future and elicit new action from the entire league.
That means, the leader (commissioner) must convince the coaches, owners and GM’s to be willing to change the face of the NFL. They will need to look for players who have as much character as athletic ability.
Roger Goodell has to get the league and the owners to change the way they do business. The NFL has to have the courage not to draft and/or completely ban the bad apples in the first place. Then maybe, the message will be sent to the players and the country.
Only when the NFL is willing to pass on some of the best players because of conduct problems will people get the message that the NFL is serious about its image. Change the players and the conduct policy will no longer be needed.
The good news is it looks like the tide is turning. This year in the NFL draft, character and leadership were looked at equally as athletic ability.
Do you have a personal conduct policy?
