Fab Favre Finds Fit–Packers Teach Employment Lessons

My post on Brett Favre three weeks ago dealt with Favre as a disgruntled employee with an out-of-proportion ego.  Having outgrown the Packers, he’s found the perfect locus in New York, the media capital of the world and the mecca for stars looking to capitalize on endorsements.  Brett, you’re not in Kansas (or Green Bay) any more.  And what luck!  The New York Jets were 4-12 last season.  Fab Favre will easily lift fickle fan spirits and the team’s record.  (Click here, here, here, and here for more info.)

In this post, I will deal with two employment issues that the Favre follies bring to mind.  First, there’s succession planning.  Just like having a new CEO lined up is important for a business, laying the groundwork for a new quarterback is essential for a pro football team.  Once Favre announced his retirement, Green Bay set about putting into place its succession plan by tapping Aaron Rodgers as the new quarterback.  When retirement was short-lived, the Packers made the tough call of putting Brett on a Jet plane.

Succession planning for top positions requires time and careful thought.  It also requires that people do what they say they’re going to do.  Obviously, that doesn’t always happen, and hard decisions have to be made.  You can’t let the person who’s left the top spot return if he/she has a change of heart.  Everyone else’s head has changed too much.  In my first post, I suggested bringing Favre back as the holder for extra points and field goals.  Bad thinking.  Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face. 

Second, you have an employee who’s decided to take another job or leave the company to start his own business or to find herself.  It happens all the time.  What also happens every now and then is a change of heart.  You may have already filled the position.  Even if you haven’t,  you’ve already started interviewing and thinking about how you want the job done differently.  Don’t bring the employee back.  It won’t work.  The employee’s head is still out the door.  The company has already made a mental adjustment as well.  He/she needs to stay gone.

You don’t have to be a star to cause Favre-like issues.  As an employer, it’s best to do what the Packers did and what Favre couldn’t do.  Get on with a new life.

The last hot shot New York Jets quarterback was Joe Namath.  He didn’t know when to quit either.  He left the Jets and went to the Los Angeles Rams.  He started four games and finished his last pro season on the bench.  That’s not likely to happen with Favre.  He’s in better shape than Namath, having avoided Namath’s injuries and lifestyle.  Favre isn’t the only pro athlete who couldn’t let go of glory.  Unitas, Jordan, Mays and Borg (as well as Namath) come to mind.  It didn’t end well for any of them, but then they’re not Fab Favre.