Peyton Manning brings laughs, lessons at Fresh Summit
ORLANDO, Fla. — Future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning delivered humor and insight in his address Oct. 19 at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.
Known for his Super Bowls and more recently his comical Nationwide insurance commercials, Manning made plenty of comical comments — including one about how the day fearsome linebacker Ray Lewis retired was the best day of his life.
Manning also urged business leaders to be fast, flexible and fluid. Resiliency and ability to change direction are key.
“Constant change is the new norm in business,” Manning said.
He described preparation as critical to developing those characteristics and said a well-prepared leader should be ready to make quick decisions in high-pressure situations.
“If you don’t know how to solve a problem from every possible angle, you’re not adequately prepared,” Manning said.
The process of thorough preparation is more than studying numerous variables by oneself; involving others is key.
“Any successful leader today needs to master the art of inquiry,” Manning said.
In addition to asking questions, leaders should work to understand what motivates their employees and how they can get the best out of each member of the team. Leaders also must learn to be patient and realize it takes time to earn the trust of a new group of people, Manning said.
He also encouraged leaders to keep growing themselves.
“It’s important to embrace continuous learning,” Manning said. “The depth of your knowledge is one of the best indicators of your longevity and overall success.
“You either get better or worse every day,” Manning said. “You don’t stay the same.”
For football fans, funny moments in the presentation included Manning’s cracks about his relative lack of mobility, frustration at microphones on the field catching play calls (and a surefire way to make the stations turn them down), and a former coach with a propensity for Yogi Berra-like comments.
