Listening skills
Whether it’s been dealing with poor-performing teams or supporting members of the Colts family during difficult times, Irsay has honed his innate leadership skills by learning from the experience of others.
“I asked a million questions,” he says. “You have to listen and be open-minded and absorb what people who have been there can share with you. I still do this; I take a little bit from everyone.
“I was going to owners’ meetings and observing my dad and all the other owners at a very young age. That was such a big benefit for me. I was keen to observe and absorb the type of lessons that were to be learned in the early part of the journey. It’s awfully hard for some guys when they’re 55, 60, 65 years old, and all of a sudden they come into the NFL. It’s very different.”
One thing that never changes, though, is the responsibility an executive has to employees.
“People are very intuitive and have their antennas up (and pointed) toward the boss, the CEO,” Irsay says. “You’re always being observed and always on the radar screen of others. You can’t mandate leadership. For people to respect you and really follow you with their hearts and not just because you sign their checks is critical.
“Your footsteps have to do more talking than your words. People get a keen sense of what kind of person you are and where you’re heart is at and those sorts of thing. There are a lot of individual moments where you have a chance to engage people that work for you, and they have a chance to connect with you.”
Irsay’s long history with the organization has given him ample time to learn to connect with its member. Where other CEOs provide sympathy, Irsay offers empathy.
“I understand what the business office is going through under certain stressful times,” he says. “I understand what the equipment manager is dealing with if it’s a terribly rainy day and he has to deal with four different types of cleats for players.
“I understand the pressures on all the scouts during draft times because I was one of those people; I did that job.”