Workplace Spirituality: How Joe Gibbs is Bringing the Redskins Back

In September 2004 this blog reported on hew Washington Redskins Coach practices spirituality in the workplace. Gibbs demonstrates a way to solve the conflicts between expressing one’s faith in the workplace and religious discrimination. (For that discussion, click here.)

Now that Gibbs and the Redskins are returning to their winning ways, lets look at Liz Clarke’s story from this morning’s WaPo. Clarke’s story

"Vintage Coach Leads a Return to Old Form: Gibbs Shuns Credit for Redskins' Run to Playoffs”

looks at how Gibbs has brought the team back. Here is a comparison of quotes from the story with Gregory Pierce’s ten disciplines of workplace spirituality as given in his book.

Pierce recommends decorating our workstations with reminders of our personal values and beliefs.

The three Super Bowl trophies remained in the lobby, placed on display by owner Daniel Snyder. But Gibbs left his own Super Bowl rings in the trophy case at his NASCAR headquarters in North Carolina, where he had built a stock-car racing dynasty during his 11 seasons away from football while the Redskins slogged to a 74-101-1 record without him.

From the moment Gibbs walked back into Redskins Park, his intent was to play down references to the team's glorious past. "The past doesn't buy us much," Gibbs explained

Pierce calls for a balance between accepting the reality of imperfection and continuous striving for quality.

After losses, Gibbs worked harder. Even when the team's record stood at 5-6, nothing rattled him, according to Joe Bugel, the assistant head coach for offense. "He kept the team very steady," Bugel said. "After the game was over, it was over. He didn't point any fingers. He didn't blame a player. He didn't blame a coach. He didn't blame anybody. His response was, 'Let's just work a little harder.' "

Some Redskins fans had grown skeptical the day would ever come, fearing the fast-paced NFL had passed Gibbs by as the team stumbled to a 6-10 record his first season back. But despite the sputtering offense and Gibbs's obvious unease a year ago in managing such basics as the clock and his own headset, those who knew him best -- his former players -- never wavered in their belief that he would revive the Redskins' sagging fortunes. They recognized amid the losses the coach's methodical efforts at team-building -- efforts that went beyond tactics of a power running game and tough-nosed defense and reflected Gibbs's core values of hard work, character and respect, which, over time, had manifested themselves in his previous squads.

Pierce recommends giving thanks and congratulations, recognizing the value and dignity of every employee.

He rewarded uncommon effort with reserved parking spaces close to the front door of Redskins Park (surrendering his own space for the cause); upgrades to hotel suites the night before games; and game balls for unsung contributors such as the team's long snapper and athletic training staff.

Pierce's disciplines 9 & 10, maintaining a balance among work, family and church, and attention to improving one's own spirituality are often hard to put into practice. This weekend, I will be fortunate to have members of my family visiting while I test for a blue belt in traditional Tae Kwon Do. The party afterwards is likely to overlap with the Redskins - Buccaneers game. Fortunately, TiVo provides a solution.