Principle #28: Manager means accountability for team results.

Picture a football coach bragging: “Our quarterback had a perfect game, our kicker nailed every field goal… sure, we lost 42–10, but look at those stats!”
Ridiculous, right?

That’s what happens when managers focus only on individual performance and forget that their accountability is for team results. In football, the score—not one player’s stat line—is the real measure. Same in leadership: it’s not enough that each employee does their job well if the team isn’t winning together.

Managers who think their job is just “keeping people busy” are like coaches tracking push-up counts while ignoring the scoreboard. Your role is bigger: connecting plays, adjusting strategy, and making sure the team moves the ball down the field.

The Hero’s Move

Playbook thinking: Align every role so the whole team knows the plan.
Halftime adjustments: When things go sideways, fix the system—not just one position.
Own the score: Win or lose, you’re accountable for the whole team’s performance.

The Next Step

Ask yourself: Am I managing tasks or driving team wins?
Because in leadership—just like in football—it’s not enough for the kicker to shine if the team still loses the game.