I probably should have made this an article but it’ll find its target audience of #Titanup fans, I’m sure. I’ve been reading up on Coyle’s Culture Code and I immediately started pulling together these meaningful thoughts as we head for week 2 with yet another viral moment from Titans media and the rebuilding organization, I hope you enjoy where this went: Building CULTURE is extremely important for establishing a winning culture. Culture is defined by 3 main pillars: - Building Safety “everyone involved feels like they belong here” - Sharing Vulnerability “Everyone feels comfortable being honest” - Establishing Purpose “Everyone knows what the org is about and work to establish that standard everyday”. I think everyone in your building has to be committed to rebuilding Culture… but nowadays the media you allow to cover your organization is just as important. I’ve seen the way the media in certain markets can help turn a hopeful and exciting situation into a nightmare situation. That unfortunately feels like the Tennessee Titans media as of late. They have become somewhat of a cultural force in their own right. How so? A media personality can be rewarded by the market for: controversy, strong opinions, conflict, negative narratives, viral clips, fan outrage, and provocative questions. Meanwhile, the football organization is rewarded for: player development, cohesion, preparation, accountability, trust, and winning. Those incentives can collide. And that’s not unique to the Titans. But it is unique to losing cultures! My question for Titans media lately is what is the aim? Cam Ward is the only QB chosen #1 overall in the history of the Tennessee Titans. Yet, somehow he’s being treated worst than any QB in recent memory in only his 18th career start. What is the aim? The answer isn’t that Cam Ward should be above criticism. He shouldn’t be. Accountability matters. Honest evaluation matters. Asking hard questions matters. But there is a difference between holding someone accountable and creating an environment where every mistake becomes a public vote on whether they belong. If we’re serious about building a winning culture in Tennessee, everybody has a role in that — ownership, front office, coaches, players, fans AND media. The media doesn’t have to be a cheerleader. In fact, it shouldn’t be. But there should be an understanding that what you consistently amplify becomes part of the culture surrounding the organization. So when you have the first No. 1 overall quarterback in franchise history, 18 starts into his career, the question shouldn’t simply be: “How many clicks can we get from the next mistake?” It should also be: “What are we building here?” Because rebuilding a football culture isn’t just about changing the people inside the building. It’s about changing the environment around the building, too. If everybody genuinely wants the Titans to win, those things should matter to everybody involved. So again, I ask: What is the aim?