Post #3 Leadership Capacities

Brett Favre's leadership has proven to many that he has the ability and commitment to make positive changes to organizations, players, and communities. Favre, who officially retired in 2008 (the first retirement…lol) from the Green Bay Packers, had decided several months later that he had made a mistake and wanted to play again. He applied for reinstatement back in August of 2008. However, the team that he played for 17 years wanted to move on with a younger quarterback and not with Favre. The Packer organization, reportedly, had offered him $20,000,000 to stay retired. Brett did not accept the offer. He wanted to play football. During this time, he encountered many negative comments and criticism of his selfishness for wanting to come back. However, I did not view it this way. I viewed it as a person driven by passion.


Regardless of where he plays, Favre has established a true understanding of the complexity of what it takes to make a change. He realizes that he cannot win by himself nor control the players he is surrounded by, but in order for success, he must be a team player. It is Favre's focus, guided by his moral purpose, that has made him and those around him successful. Favre's teammates understand that it is not just his moral purpose to win football games, but to make a difference within the organization and communities.

Many people are aware of his legendary career and accomplishments on the field, but few know how much he has given back to charities and communities. In 1996, Favre started the Brett Favre 4ward Foundation, an organization that raises money to provide assistance for disadvantaged or disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi. He has been an activist for cystic fibrosis, the Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish foundation, and has donated to many local organizations that provide support for abused and neglected children. In Wisconsin, he helped establish and fund the Starbright foundation, were sick children are able to use technology to communicate with other sick children through the hospitals private network.

Throughout his career, Brett has established himself as a true leader on and off the field.


Green Bay Press Gazette. Retrieved 02:30, February 21, 2010, from

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/99999999/PKR01/803090401/0/theme

The Wise Learn From Their Mistakes

As I mentioned previously, one of the reasons I admire Brett Favre his how he has always presented himself when he had made a mistake. I believe mistakes are unavoidable in life. All leaders make their share of them. However, I believe it is how these leaders overcome their mistakes, and what they learn from their mistakes, that make them great. When one is leading, and seeking change, mistakes are inevitable. I do not believe you can have one without the other and so learning to use mistakes well is an important leadership trait. Whether or not the mistake is big or small, there is always something to be learned from it and mistakes offer an immediate piece of feedback. You just have to be wise enough to use what you learn.

I believe the turning point of his life was back in 1996 when Brett admitted and had taken full responsibility for his addiction. Favre had developed the reputation of being an "Ironman". However, with such a reputation came a very high price. He did not miss a start in his first 65 games and had over six medical operations. He was playing the best football of his career, but was addicted to pain killers. Brett made a public announcement and voluntarily entered rehab. The next year he led his team to the super bowl.

Brett Favre

The reason I chose Brett Favre was not because of his God given athletic ability, but that he is strong, genuine, and a vibrant person. I chose Brett Favre because of his flare, enthusiasm, perseverance, and the fact that nothing seems to discourage him even in his darkest hours. He is a true leader that never quits in what he believes in. He achieves his highest accomplishment when it appears he is at his all time low. Brett Favre embodies all the qualities needed to make a great leader.


He is a survivor. Brett Favre has fallen to drug & alcohol addiction. He was able to publicly admit his mistakes and overcome his addiction. On and off the field he has shown that he is human and not perfect, but like any great leader has learned from his shortcomings.

I believe these qualities are not only important to possess for any great leader, but are necessary to be a leader in the educational system.

A Brief Summary

Brett Favre played quarterback for his high school team, but his coach (his father) did not allow him to throw the ball. He was not recruited after high school, but he became a star at Southern Mississippi. During his senior year in college, he was in a car accident, lost 30 inches of his small intestine, but he was still drafted by the NFL. In the NFL, he became, arguably, one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.


Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:30, February 17, 2010, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Favre

Brett Favre

"Life deals you a lot lessons, some people learn from it, some people don't." Brett Favre