"The difference between winning and losing...What does meaningful change actually look like in Washington?,"

[Stymietee]

Looking at the 2023 wish list of Commanders' Nation; it's easy to fill the checklist of accomplishments a year hence.

1. New owner... check ☒
2. New GM... check ☒
3. New head coach and staff... check ☒
4. New QB... check ☒

Few can argue that the faces are almost all new ones and that as a stand-alone changes certainly have been made from top to bottom in Washington. Like other flailing NFL organizations, Washington is no stranger to change after hiring and firing 10 head coaches since Dan Snyder purchased the team in 1999 and one thus far in the Josh Harris era of ownership. To their credit, each of these men wanted to field winning teams and was heavily involved in player acquisition, trades, and drafts, and to their detriment almost all of them failed where it mattered most in producing the outcomes desired...the players and their work environment.

Over the years, there have been numerous studies and articles emphasizing the importance of employees as the most valuable asset for organizations. For example, research by the Hay Group found that highly engaged employees are, on average, 50% more likely to exceed expectations than the least-engaged workers. Additionally, various articles from sources like the Harvard Business Review and Forbes discuss the critical role employees play in an organization's success. While it's challenging to pinpoint an exact number of studies, the overwhelming consensus across many research efforts and expert opinions is clear: employees are indeed a crucial asset for any organization.

When it comes to an NFL franchise's most valuable assets, a lot of areas come to mind. Ownership, the management team, scouting, coaching, and/ or being the cash cow that comes with membership may take the top spot for some, but none of these come close to its most valuable assets, in the form of the tens, hundreds or thousands of employees that make up the workforce of the team.

At this point let me offer this first-hand knowledge... Since 1999 when Dan Snyder purchased this team, few if any found joy in working for him or within the organizational environment that he created.

It is Josh Harriss' job and responsibility to invest in his people by providing them with an exceptional work environment and workforce to get the desired result, which is championships!

So, beyond the renewed enthusiasm displayed thus far by new hires Dann Quinn and company, let's take a look at the front-line troops and what motivates them to become all that they can be for this organization.

First and foremost, players aren't stupid, beyond being paid handsomely for their work they want to win, and equally important, they want to cement their legacies in their chosen profession as either the best or among the best who have ever played at their position. Oh yeah, they want to accomplish it all, within a limited period that averages 3.3 years and the finality of their time as an active NFL player ending at 27.5 years old.

It seems rather counterintuitive to believe that there are people within the organization who see this team as incapable of winning every game on its 2024 schedule, I believe that there's an urgency to do everything within their power to make that a reality...now! To do less means nothing has really changed for the organization's most valued assets and expectations aren't in line with actions that make them 50% more productive than multiple studies indicate that they could be under better conditions and additional upgrades. New energy and enthusiasm take you only so far before reality sets in and as stated, players aren't stupid. Perhaps, very soon, this organization will become a winning one, but such futuristic promises do little for current players who still want to win games and cement legacies. Asking them to give their all today and patiently wait for a future not promised to them is another form of organizational dysfunction. "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -Vince Lombardi

 

[skinsdad62]

Looking at the 2023 wish list of Commanders' Nation; it's easy to fill the checklist of accomplishments a year hence.

1. New owner... check ☒
2. New GM... check ☒
3. New head coach and staff... check ☒
4. New QB... check ☒

Few can argue that the faces are almost all new ones and that as a stand-alone changes certainly have been made from top to bottom in Washington. Like other flailing NFL organizations, Washington is no stranger to change after hiring and firing 10 head coaches since Dan Snyder purchased the team in 1999 and one thus far in the Josh Harris era of ownership. To their credit, each of these men wanted to field winning teams and was heavily involved in player acquisition, trades, and drafts, and to their detriment almost all of them failed where it mattered most in producing the outcomes desired...the players and their work environment.

Over the years, there have been numerous studies and articles emphasizing the importance of employees as the most valuable asset for organizations. For example, research by the Hay Group found that highly engaged employees are, on average, 50% more likely to exceed expectations than the least-engaged workers. Additionally, various articles from sources like the Harvard Business Review and Forbes discuss the critical role employees play in an organization's success. While it's challenging to pinpoint an exact number of studies, the overwhelming consensus across many research efforts and expert opinions is clear: employees are indeed a crucial asset for any organization.

When it comes to an NFL franchise's most valuable assets, a lot of areas come to mind. Ownership, the management team, scouting, coaching, and/ or being the cash cow that comes with membership may take the top spot for some, but none of these come close to its most valuable assets, in the form of the tens, hundreds or thousands of employees that make up the workforce of the team.

At this point let me offer this first-hand knowledge... Since 1999 when Dan Snyder purchased this team, few if any found joy in working for him or within the organizational environment that he created.

It is Josh Harriss' job and responsibility to invest in his people by providing them with an exceptional work environment and workforce to get the desired result, which is championships!

So, beyond the renewed enthusiasm displayed thus far by new hires Dann Quinn and company, let's take a look at the front-line troops and what motivates them to become all that they can be for this organization.

First and foremost, players aren't stupid, beyond being paid handsomely for their work they want to win, and equally important, they want to cement their legacies in their chosen profession as either the best or among the best who have ever played at their position. Oh yeah, they want to accomplish it all, within a limited period that averages 3.3 years and the finality of their time as an active NFL player ending at 27.5 years old.

It seems rather counterintuitive to believe that there are people within the organization who see this team as incapable of winning every game on its 2024 schedule, I believe that there's an urgency to do everything within their power to make that a reality...now! To do less means nothing has really changed for the organization's most valued assets and expectations aren't in line with actions that make them 50% more productive than multiple studies indicate that they could be under better conditions and additional upgrades. New energy and enthusiasm take you only so far before reality sets in and as stated, players aren't stupid. Perhaps, very soon, this organization will become a winning one, but such futuristic promises do little for current players who still want to win games and cement legacies. Asking them to give their all today and patiently wait for a future not promised to them is another form of organizational dysfunction. "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." -Vince Lombardi

i agree with this . and the players we have on hand here at this point and time need to be led to victories by using all of the above . ownership and the FO have to be smart on how they build the team . no more sacrificing long term stability for short term gain . i have some good vibes so far however its early and the honeymoon is still ongoing

 

[skinsdad62]

by the way sty outstanding post !

 

[ThomasTomasz]

i agree with this . and the players we have on hand here at this point and time need to be led to victories by using all of the above . ownership and the FO have to be smart on how they build the team . no more sacrificing long term stability for short term gain . i have some good vibes so far however its early and the honeymoon is still ongoing

The Orioles went through almost five years of losing in order to build that long-term stability piece. Tearing down the minor league development system and rebuilding it with people who fit a modern, common vision established by the GM. Taking the smallest analytics department and making it one of the largest. Establishing a presence in Latin America where there was barely any at all.

I’m OK with a year of evaluating and ‘losing’ if it leads to us becoming a team like Baltimore where, year in and year out, we are competing and able to replace the free agents that we are unable to keep. A lot has changed in the front office, and a lot will continue to change over the year as more people are let go who do not align with the common vision.

In NFL years, a rebuild like the Orioles where you tear it down to the struts- which we’ve done- is probably 1.5-2 years Before you are seriously looking at a competing window opening up.

 

[Sportster 72]

It seems to me that many of the players who were signed as FAs knowing the idea was to change the culture, be leaders and to win more games.

I have high hopes that JD will change the QB of the team. Still have to remember he is a rookie.

Trying to win the SB following the first year of building would be a tall task. I think all of us knew this was a two to three year build as long as JD works out.

 

[Stymietee]

by the way sty outstanding post !

Thanks!