Fifteen thousand people united in a common goal.  That’s powerful.  That’s compelling.  You can bet that whatever they stand for is difficult to ignore.

Especially if you are Mike Vernon.

The fifteen thousand people united in a common goal were all Winnipeg Jets fans.  And their common goal?  Their common goal was simply to psych out Mike Vernon.  Their common desire was to get inside the head of the Red Wings goalie to such a degree that his game would suffer; he wouldn’t be able to play well and would then let in some easy goals which would result in a Jet’s victory.

In the early 1990s the Jets would often meet the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs.  Detroit would qualify in the #1 position and the Jets in the #8 position.  The Jets would give them a good fight, but the Red Wings would prevail in the series.  The Jets fans, arguably the best and loudest fans in the NHL, would do whatever they could to create an advantage.

There was one particular tactic they reserved solely for Mike Vernon…

I don’t know who started this chant, or how he actually trained 15,000 fans to participate – which would be a great story of leadership in its own right – but the chant was very simple, and very effective.  When play had stopped and all was ‘quiet’ in the arena, this lone man would simply yell, “Vernon!!!!!!”  But very drawn out – like, “Verrrrrrrrrnooooooon”.  And in unison 15,000 fans would reply, “Loser!!!!!!!”, but again drawn out, “Looooooooooooserrrrrrrrrrrrrrr”.

“Vernon – Loser”.  “Vernon – Loser”.  Over and over this would echo around the arena, ad nauseam, is a fashion specifically designed to ruin Vernon’s concentration and throw off his game.  It was amazing how it would resound throughout the game fueled by the fans’ intent to win with the passion and purpose of a top-of-the-food-chain predator.

How could it not throw off his game?!

You must understand though, Mike Vernon was not a loser.  He was anything but.  His career spanned 20 years, he won 2 Stanley Cups, played in 5 all-star games, won the William M. Jennings Trophy and the Conn Smyth Trophy, had a Save Percentage of .890 and a Goals Against Average of 2.27.  He was a winner.

But no matter how good you are, everyone is vulnerable to a certain degree.

The tactic utilized by the Jets fans against Mike Vernon is really no different than what you and I face every day.  I call it the “Whisper Campaign”.  Now, in Mike Vernon’s case I would call it the “Yelling Campaign”, but it’s a whisper for you and me.

What is the Whisper Campaign?  It is the constant barrage of negative thoughts, self-limiting beliefs, or outright lies that roll around our hearts and minds like an MP3 file on repeat:  “I’m a loser.”  “I can’t do this.”  “Who am I fooling?”  “I will never be able to do this well.”  “I can’t count on anyone.”  “I am all alone.”  “Nothing I ever do is good enough.”  “This is as good as it gets – as I get.”  “I don’t know what I’m doing.” Etc., etc., etc.

It’s akin to the ”Imposter Syndrome” – the belief that you really don’t know what you are doing and have no right to be where you are, or do what you are doing in leadership:  “Today is the day that everyone finds out I have no idea what I am doing.”

Like Mike Vernon, we need to be aware of the “Whisper Campaign”.  We need to be self-aware enough to know what thoughts are rattling around our head.  We need to identify the thoughts that will limit us; that will stop us from moving forward as leaders.

When we have identified those self-limiting beliefs we need to get rid of them – dispose of them.  Counter them with the truth about who you are and who you can be, and the truth of your situation and what it can be.  Don’t focus on the Whisper Campaign – focus on what’s true.

What is your Whisper Campaign?  Identify it and disregard it – that’s the only way you can play a winning game.