Motivational Quotes for the Non Profit TEAM
A few Lombardi-isms to help motivate your Non Profit Board
I just wrote about team presentations —a methodology that more non profits need to adopt. After writing that article, I thought that since it is Super Bowl weekend, we will soon see the showdown of two great teams. The trophy, for which both teams will compete, is the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the great Vince Lombardi.
Wow! I can’t think of a better time to share some of the coach’s motivational quotes and how his messages relate to non profit teams as they strive for success.
Now I’m smiling to myself and I know what you’re thinking. I do realize that most non profit board meetings aren’t going to be held in a locker room where you might be able to see these great sayings pasted all over the walls. And no, I don’t see any board members beginning to bang their heads against the lockers and yelling “NOW LET’S GO FUND RAISE”! —and then rush out the boardroom doors.
We always learn from each other and that’s the beauty of teams — the highest priority of Vince Lombardi — the team. The more frequently the same teams go out “into the field” and make their presentations, over-and-over again, the more fluid, the more confident, and the more professional the team and your organization will look. So here are some of the quotes from the legendary coach that you can “tape” onto your non profit boardroom walls:
- “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
- “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”
- “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”
- “Become better leaders. Make better decisions. Achieve better results.”
- “We are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence.”
- “Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing — the result.”
- “We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.”
…And these quotes are a mere sampling of the many messages he conveyed to his teams. Now, I realize that many people are not football fans but, hopefully, you can see that many Vince Lombardi quotes transcend sports in general. What Lombardi teaches us really defines what we should be doing throughout our daily lives. I suggest you use some of his quotes to generate team building and leadership development among your board members.
Remember, these motivational moments aren’t just designed just for the Super Bowl season. These remarks are applicable all year long — to be used every day when you charge out of the non profit board room and go into the community to make a “super impact” on the people you serve.
By Joseph John
