DC's Changing of the Guard

It was a big week in Washington DC. 

A changing of the guard, as they say.

No, I am not talking politics. Yes, I am talking leadership.

If you know me, then you know I’m a colossal @WashingtonCommanders fans.

While I have high hopes for my Commanders as they take on the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday, this post is less about the dreamy present and more about getting through the nightmare most Washington fans have lived in our past. 

It wasn’t always bad. 

I’ve been going to games with my family since I was 5 years old. 

I was there in 1985 when Joe Theismann had his leg broken complements of Lawrence Taylor on Monday Night Football. I was there in 1988 when Darrell Green prevented a game tying touchdown in the last minute of the NFC Championship vs the Minnesota Vikings sending the Redskins to Super Bowl 22; a 42-10 thumping of the Broncos compliments of Doug Williams. And I was there in 1992 when the Washington Redskins defeated the Detroit Lions 42-10 in 1991 to go to their last Super Bowl where they defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24. 

And then…

We went very dark. 

For three decades.

With the exception of a small blip, “we” have been far from relevant in the National Football League across the last 33 years.

So what changed?

Everything. 

• New ownership.

• A listening lap with the players. 

• A listening lap with the community. 

• The hiring of a competent General Manager. 

• The hiring of a Head Coach who has shared values and vision as the Owner and General Manager. 

• The acquisition of character-driven, seasoned veterans who could set the tone for the future (Bobby Wagner, Jeremy Chinn, Frankie Luvu, Zach Ertz, Marcus Mariota, Austin Ekeler, Nick Allegretti).

• The drafting of a humble-but-hungry generational Quarterback.

If you ever wondered what leadership can do, the Washington Commanders are the modern day case study. 

What are the lessons?

1. Turn Arounds Can Happen Fast. This wasn’t a 10 year rebuild. It wasn’t even a 10 month rebuild. The alignment from owner, to GM, to Head coach, to players was there from their start. They were in lockstep on team goals and they believed when others didn’t. Turn arounds can happen fast when there’s a commitment TO alignment from the top. Without it? Just look at the last 33 years in DC. Or look at the Dallas Cowboys. 

2. Hire Winners. Owner Josh Harris also owns an NBA team. But this is his first time in the NFL. He put in the work to hire competent people around him who have won. Adam Peters has been part of three Super Bowl-winning teams. Dan Quinn won a Super Bowl as a defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks 'Legion of Boom'. Starting LB Bobby Wagner won a Super Bowl playing for Dan Quin while Nick Allegretti won 2 Super Bowls protecting Patrick Mahomes backside. It helps when you’ve had people who have won — at all layers of the organization from on the field to the front office. Winning does matter. Winning can breed winning. 

3. Words Can Be Warriors. The team has rallied around a simple playoff mantra: Anybody. Anywhere. Anytime. This is the perfect playoff mantra for the Commanders because the Coaching staff knew, as a #6 seed, they wouldn’t sniff a home game. If they were going to make a dent, it would have to be done on the road (“Anywhere”). And, so far, they’ve taken their show on the road to Tampa Bay and Detroit. Next stop: Philadelphia.

What about you, leader? 

Are you being too patient on nudging your team to make changes? Are you surrounding yourself with fellow winners? Do you have a rally cry in your why that your team actually wants to believe in? 

Leadership isn’t just about making changes—it’s about making the right changes, rallying behind a purpose, and proving that alignment at the top can shift the narrative. If the Washington Commanders can do it, (believe me), so can you. Anybody. Anywhere. Anytime.

THE COURAGEOUS PODCAST

One of the worst parts of the job for many? Figuring out pricing. If you’ve ever had to price anything, this is a must listen episode. Blair Enns is the visionary behind Win Without Pitching, the organization that’s rewritten the rules on how expert advisors and creatives close deals. As the author of The Win Without Pitching Manifesto and Pricing Creativity, plus co-host of the 2Bobs Podcast, Blair has redefined integrity-based selling and value-based pricing for countless leaders. In this episode, he and Ryan explore why fear is an inevitable part of the sales process and how embracing courage can help you command higher fees. Blair shares practical strategies to avoid “pitching prisons,” from anchoring high on pricing to structuring proposals with multiple options. He also shares some nuggets from his new book, The Four Conversations: A New Model for Selling Expertise, and reveals the unexpected path that led him from big-city advertising to a remote Canadian mountain town, where his mission to help businesses thrive took root.

Missed the last 5 Podcasts?

• Performance Paradigm's Reggie Butler
• Dilagence's Dilan Gomih
• In Good Co's Kirsten Ludwig & Chris Danton
• Year End Special w/ Mystery Guests
• Serial Entrepreneur Jeff Ragovin

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Thanks for stopping by for your Weekly Dose of Courage! Don’t forget to hit subscribe above or below to be notified when the next issue comes out.

Ryan Berman is the founder of Courageous; a think-feel-do change consultancy based in Southern California. With 25 years in creative business, Ryan believes your “future is safe with change”. Ryan is a speaker, practitioner, and authority on the subject who has been featured in Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Inc, and Forbes. Ryan has spoken on the topic all over the country including at Google, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s, Kraft Heinz, Logitech, Discover Card, and charity: water. Ryan also hosts The Courageous Podcast where he talks with leaders from around the globe to uncover what it means to be courageous in today's world. His book, Return On Courage, shares why companies need to unlock courage while providing practical tips on how organizations can operationalize courage today. Learn more at courageous.io