Next Man Up: How This NFL Mindset Translates To Business Success

With a minute to go in the game, Jameis Winston led the Cleveland Browns to an upset win over their bitter rival, the Baltimore Ravens, this past Sunday. And as his receiver was crossing into the endzone, Winston and the NFL reminded us that you can never have enough quality backups for high-profile jobs.

Winston stepped in after Browns starting QB Deshaun Watson was ruled out for the year because of injury and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson went to the bench, also injured. On Sunday, Winston delivered, going 27 for 41 and throwing three touchdowns. Not bad for a guy who was third-string on the depth chart only a week ago.

Other backup quarterbacks also led their teams to victory this past weekend. After New England Patriots QB Drake Maye went down with an injury against the New York Jets, veteran backup Jacoby Brissett took over and led the team to victory. In Jacksonville, the Green Bay Packers lost starting QB Jordan Love, but backup Malik Willis threw a 51-yard pass to set up a winning field goal to beat the Jaguars.

“The moment’s never too big for him, and he made a lot of big-time plays in this game, not only with his arm,” Green Bay Coach Matt LaFleur told CBS Sports about Willis.

That kind of attitude is needed as much in the business world as it is on the football field, especially when it comes to leadership positions. As Sunday’s games show, you need people who can come off the bench, ready to step in and lead the team. Just like in the NFL, companies must embrace a “next man (or player) up” mindset as new leaders often have to take over high-profile positions to achieve success, sometimes on very short notice.

Of course, making sure you have a leader in waiting on the bench is easier said than done, but there are plenty of guides to help your business develop its next quarterback. Over at Dealer Knows, Joe Webb, an expert on leadership and the auto industry, stressed that companies need to focus on training to help grow leaders but also noted that you need to be able to identify employees with leadership potential.

“Without training, how will you prepare people to step up into a higher, better position?” Webb asked. “Have you taught the people with a ‘manager’ title what it means to actually ‘manage’ people? The Next Man Up Mindset (or Next Woman Up Mindset) allows promoting from within, cultivating ambition, and setting structured objectives in all departments.”

Steve Shillingford, the founder and CEO of DeepSee.ai and a member of the Forbes Technology Council, called for businesses to have a” deep team, with varied and diverse experience, empowered to own, contribute and act on behalf of the cause.” Just as importantly, employees need a “clear and concise understanding of the goal” when they step into leadership positions.

Having that kind of depth isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. That’s something Winston, Brissett, and Willis showed on the field this past Sunday, something which their teammates attested to after the games.

Browns offensive lineman Joel Bitonio told NFL.com that Winston had the right mindset to step in and lead the team.

“He was ready to go,” Bitonio said. “Obviously, he threw the ball well — 300 yards, three touchdowns. The game-winner. He was a lot of energy. But he’s been like that since he’s been here, so it was expected.”

Patriots tight end Austin Hooper said Brissett was the right man to step in and lead New England after Drake Maye went down.

“There’s chaos going on, he never wavers. That’s why he’s a team captain,” Hooper told CBS Sports about Brissett. “You’ve got two options: You can either fold or you can fight. Thank God Drake’s going to be all right, but when you have a guy like Jacoby, who’s won here, you don’t really blink.”

That’s the kind of mindset businesses need to identify the right employees and develop their abilities so they can step in when needed to lead teams, manage projects, assume more responsibilities, and achieve success.