Stop Celebrating Only The Goal Scorers
Standing on the sidelines of my son's football match last Sunday, I noticed a familiar scene unfold.
The whistle blew. The match ended. And then came the announcement:
"Today's MVP is..."
You can guess who received it—the boy who scored the winning goals.
Don't get me wrong. Scoring goals is brilliant and deserves celebration.
But I couldn't help wondering: what about the defender who prevented three certain goals? Or the midfielder whose great passes created those scoring opportunities?
The assists.
The setups.
The quiet contributors.
It got me thinking: this happens off the field too—in meeting rooms, living rooms, classrooms.
In football, as in life and leadership, we often celebrate the most visible wins while overlooking the chain of contributions that made them possible.
A recent Forbes article on high-performing teams confirms what many of us instinctively know.
The most successful teams aren't necessarily those with the best individual talents, but those with the strongest teamwork.
As Michael Jordan wisely put it:
"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships."
Goals can't be scored if the defence and midfield don't bring the ball forward.
Presentations don't shine without the research team behind them.
Projects don't succeed without the people managing the details that others might miss.
Many of my coachees confide that they feel constant pressure to make their work visible—to score those metaphorical goals—in order to be considered for the next promotion.
This visibility treadmill creates genuine stress and can shift focus away from meaningful work toward performance metrics that might be easier to see but less valuable overall.
Perhaps we need a "Best Assist" award alongside our MVPs.
This reminds me of the profound Zulu greeting "Sawubona"—meaning "I see you." Not just your physical presence, but truly seeing your value, contributions, and humanity.
Imagine cultivating this "seeing" culture in all our spaces—whether you're leading a team, collaborating with peers, or simply showing up for someone in your life:
In our families
In our workplaces
On our teams
In our classrooms
What kind of leader do I want to be? One who sees only the goal-scorers, or one who truly sees each person—recognising the unique value they bring to our collective success?
✨ Leadership Reflection of the Week:
How do you make sure the quiet contributors feel just as valued as the high performers—at work, at home, or in your community?
Warmly, Viviane
Now over to you!
If you're feeling that gentle nudge toward becoming a leader who truly 'sees' everyone on your team—including yourself—perhaps it's time for a deeper conversation.
My 3-hour Deep-Dive sessions create a space where you can cut through the noise, reconnect with your authentic leadership style, and map out how to bring more 'Sawubona' into your work and life.
Let's explore what might be possible when you lead with your head, heart, and gut aligned. Book your free Chemistry Session with me HERE. ✨"
And until then, check out my FREE CLARITY CHECK-IN. It’s the first step to get yourself out of going in circles. Just takes 30 minutes of your time. You can download it by clicking on the image below.
