In the world of leadership, there’s a saying: “The score takes care of itself.” Legendary football coach Bill Walsh lived by this mantra. For him, it wasn’t about obsessing over the scoreboard. It was about doing the work—building strong processes, fostering trust, and showing up with discipline and precision. When you focus on those basics, the wins come naturally. In business, it’s the same. The magic happens when we stop chasing profits (the proverbial scoreboard) and start taking care of our people, our customers, and our communities.
Think of a sports team glued to the scoreboard, fixated on the numbers instead of the game. They miss the plays, the teamwork, the very things that lead to success. Businesses can fall into this trap, too. Yes, revenue matters—cash is like oxygen for a business. But leadership isn’t about hoarding all the oxygen. It’s about making sure everyone can breathe. It’s about creating an ecosystem where people, purpose, and profit thrive together.
For decades, companies have been laser-focused on “maximizing shareholder value.” But is that the ultimate goal? The reality is more complex. Leaders today need to recognize when to push for growth, when to hold steady, and—most importantly—when to decide that enough is enough. This isn’t about ignoring profits; it’s about balancing them with something bigger. Sustainable success isn’t born from spreadsheets alone—it grows from connection, purpose, and humanity.
Business isn’t just numbers and strategies; it’s people. But somewhere along the way, we’ve drifted. We nudged a generation toward higher education, teaching them theories about efficiency and profit maximization instead of the messy, real-world dynamics of running a business. The result? Bright, talented people staring at screens instead of looking into faces. But here’s the good news: we can fix this. It doesn’t take a revolution—just a small adjustment.
Leadership doesn’t require an overhaul—it takes a one-degree shift. By reconnecting with the human side of business, we can create real, lasting impact. Here’s how we can reflect on our leadership in 2024 and chart a path forward for 2025:
Being a leader isn’t about racking up points—it’s about staying in the game. It’s about knowing when to hustle and when to step back, when to innovate and when to reflect. Leadership is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about creating something that lasts—not just for shareholders but for everyone your business touches.
So, does the score take care of itself? Kind of. But only when we, as leaders, take care of what really matters: the people, the purpose, and the planet we’re here to serve.
AF
P.S. One of my mentors this week gave me a great reminder, "Don't forget in all the excitement about next year, to reflect on what happened this year." Make sure to take some space in the coming weeks to celebrate the wins and mourn the losses this year.