Last night’s BCS Championship game had a clear winner, and it had a clear lesson.   The LSU team seemed not to have their collective heads in the game, and it started with the quarterback Jordan Jefferson, photo above.  He was like a deer in the headlights as he faced the BAMA defense, and that was apparent even to a television viewer.  Since his backup had a proven history of throwing interceptions against the Tide, Coach Miles apparently didn’t think he had a choice.

There is no coach to call the plays in a startup.  You have to step forward as the CEO and make real-time decisions that involve complex interactions among employees, customers, and vendors.   Yes, there may be a board, particularly if the company has taken on some investment, but I’ve often heard it said that the only purpose of a board is to fire the CEO.   I don’t subscribe to that view; board members can be very effective as business developers or fundraisers if you equip them and encourage them for those roles.  And, their advice can be very helpful.  But, they’re never going to be the ones immersed in the day-to-day and suffering the body blows, so there’s only so much they can do to share your load.

When things are going very well for a startup – happy customers, deals getting done, payrolls getting met – the entire team is energized.   A good CEO is always the head cheerleader and head rainmaker, and you need to ride the waves of those good times to strengthen the ranks.  Some companies successfully use various types of extracurricular team-building exercises, but I’ve personally found that nothing beats the adrenalin rush of knowing that the company is accomplishing something in its chosen market.

On the other hand, as with LSU last night, when things aren’t going at all well – delays, financial pressures, missed targets – as CEO you have to instill some fortitude up and down the line and maintain confidence.  You have to keep everyone on the same page, with none of those shovel pass interceptions while your intended receiver is blocking in another location.   And, likely you will have to deal with a lot of dissention within your own leadership ranks.   I’ve always recommended that when things are going well, just take credit for good management.  When things aren’t going so well, then it’s time to look for excuses.   But, excuses won’t solve the problems and improve the situation.

One or two individual efforts can provide a turning point.  Even if you as CEO are at your wits’ end, you may have someone in the frontlines of your team with a creative idea that can be a turning point.  Somebody needs to make just one extraordinary play -- mixing league metaphors here, but think of Demaryius Thomas’ individual feat of turning Tebow’s first 18-yd pass in OT into a long touchdown Sunday in Denver. 

As with all entrepreneurial endeavors, you face the good and bad times dealing with lots of ambiguity and lots of uncertainties.   Jefferson never knew exactly what defense would be called against him, whether the BAMA players would execute, or whether his own players would perform according to the designed play.  Fatigue became a factor, and you could see the confusion and frustration as LSU could never even find and hold the 50.   Give the opposition due credit, but the Tigers just weren’t able to perform at their capability and weren’t able to adjust to adverse circumstances.  This appeared far more mental than physical, and that traces back to leadership.

McCarron, on the other hand…that’s the CEO you want to be.  

 <Photo from Arlington Star-Telegram>