The Denver Broncos unlocked the transformational secret for success

The Denver Broncos just unlocked the transformational secret for a successful season, and it is character.

The 2020 Denver Broncos are continuing their transformational path from a 5-11 team struggling to remain competitive and lacking character to a dark horse playoff team aiming to compete with the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Transformational can be defined as the process of making a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character.

Character.

The Broncos have lacked leadership from a variety of positions throughout the organization since the onset of health issues of Pat Bowlen began.

Mr. Bowlen was a transformational leader, meaning he worked with his players and the entire staff to advance the Denver Broncos’ performance through a rise in morale and motivation.

His character influenced others to achieve more, leading to three World Championships, seven Super Bowl Appearances, 21 playoff wins, and 333 regular-season wins.

Members of the organization have tried to cover the void left by the late Hall of Fame Owner, but those shoes were impossible to fill.

The loss of coach Gary Kubiak and future Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware exaggerated the holes of leadership.

Shortly after being hired Vic Fangio once said,

"“Culture is kind of a new word in the sporting vernacular… Culture, to me, is about getting a bunch of good players in here and then a bunch of good coaches and then we win a bunch of games and everybody’s happy so we have (a) good culture.”(via Broncos PR)"

Vic was being too simple in his explanation of culture. The Broncos had an eroding culture as the team was splintered into subsections. The defense vocalized its frustration with the offense for underperforming. The front office wanted their first-round quarterback to play while the coaching staff struggled to justify it or downright opposed it. The team was missing character.

In 2019, the Broncos began the year not knowing how to win. Each positional group failed to connect consistently. The pass rush failed to get home, or the secondary would blow a coverage. The quarterback could miss an open receiver, or the offensive line whiffed on an open rusher.

No one took charge.

Then, the team began to find the transformational key for success.

As the 2019 season ended, we began to see which members of the Broncos would take hold of this team.

Young locker room leaders such as Dalton Risner, Phillip Lindsay, Courtland Sutton, and Justin Simmons began to emerge. The already boisterous voices of Kareem Jackson and Shelby Harris challenged the locker room while the jubilant personality of Von Miller looked to keep the team’s spirits high.

Then, 2020 hit and challenged every community in the United States. In a time where many chose to sit idle many members of the Broncos chose to transform their role amongst the team and community.

Drew Lock, only 23, began to not only own the huddle but is showing leadership off of the field. Whether he is organizing unofficial organized team activities to supporting the team gathering to support opposition to social injustices, Lock is showing his it factor.

As Shelby Manning wrote on Miller’s growth is tangible. Miller not only has been an All-Pro player on the field but has begun to set the expectation for his teammates off of it. Miller has made his voice louder and it comes at the perfect time.

Justin Simmons not only showed his All-Pro ability on the field last year but has stepped up to show his community support during a time of strife and unrest.

Coach Fangio took an opportunity to use show character and humility to apologize after some poor phrasing of an answer upset players and community members.

John Elway put himself out on a limb to support his team and players in a way he had never done before.

On June 6th, Todd Davis and Kareem Jackson led more than 50 players and coaches in a march supporting a call for equality and social justice.

All of these transformational actions, including so many more show the grit and unity surrounding this team which is highlighted by character.

Character.

Regardless of your view on these particular social issues, the actions of the front office, coaching staff, and players show alignment.

For the first time since 2015, the Broncos organization is showing a connection throughout the (virtual) headquarters over at Dove Valley.

Many people may not see how individualized efforts or a group gathering off of the field can impact the team on it.

As I have studied leadership through the past several years, the literature on the topic always comes back to show the ability of leaders to get people to achieve something greater than themselves is contingent on the character of its leaders.

When the best players in the most important positions are its leaders, teams tend to gel quicker and exceed their capabilities.

This team is on an upward trend behind Drew Lock and one reason is the character of this young team forged off the field will go a long way to shaping their resolve on it.

Character.

This team has transformed from picking in the top 5 two years ago with rifts throughout the organization to a team united and focused on supporting each other to excel.

The 2020 Broncos have found the secret to achieving somethings special and are transforming behind the character of a proud organization.