NFL’s Syd Kitson: ‘Success Comes From Being On The Same Page’

Former professional football player Syd Kitson played for two legendary teams during his NFL career in the 1980s—the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. From that experience, Kitson recognized the value of culture and how it drives performance. When he left the league and transitioned into the business world, he not only brought his signature passion, but he took with him a playbook for success. A set of rules he would use to keep everyone around him accountable. Today, Kitson leads with one powerful principle:

“Everybody signs the team agreement,” Kitson explained on a recent episode of the Corporate Competitor Podcast. “If they don’t follow the team agreement, they’re not going to work for us. People in the organization have confidence that if someone’s a troublemaker, they’re not going to be working for us long.”

Kitson, who is the chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners and the visionary behind Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, preaches the value of culture. But it’s not just about a tagline. He means what he says. Clarity, he says, is key when it comes to the attaining goals within an organization—hence the signed piece of paper. Maintaining clarity helps steer direction and it provides essential guidelines for employees. 

“It’s five things that we all agreed to do,” said Kitson, explaining the team agreement’s stipulations, “from how we treat each other in meetings to how we go about our business. Everybody signs off on it. If they don’t follow our team agreement, they’re not going to work for us… I don’t care how good they are.”

Kitson, who transitioned from wide receiver and tight end to offensive guard, which allowed him to have an impactful career in the NFL, shared other important leadership lessons on the podcast, including:

• Learn from your failures. The former NFL player says it’s important to look at failure not as a mistake but as a learning opportunity. “If you’re afraid to fail,” he explained, “you’re never going to be successful. You have to be willing to take risks and face consequences.”

• Keep a day of service. Kitson makes sure the people in his organization maintain a communal day of service each and every quarter. It brings people together for the greater good, he said, whether it’s helping a local charity or cleaning up the on site facilities at the ranch.

• Observations lead to innovations. Kitson says business leaders can turn challenges into new opportunities by asking deeper questions. He urges folks to look at a set of circumstances with a critical eye and then determine what can be done next. Don’t just see a thing, he says, see it and ask why?

Ultimately, Kitson was able to spearhead a groundbreaking movement with his Babcock Ranch. The community is a beacon of inspiration to the rest of the world. But it all began by simply setting goals and maintaining a determination to stick to them no matter what. For the former offensive lineman, success comes when everyone is working on the same page. “Doing something for the greater good is incredibly important,” he says. “Not just in football—but in life.”