Achieve Victory With 3 Football Playbook Keys
I love football (college and NFL). I love leaders who lead teams to victory and make adjustments down the field to victory.
I love the energy, the competition, but most of all I love how the lessons apply to business and life. Whether or not you have the title as a leader, my guess is that you lead others, and coach them to reach their potential.
Even if you’re not a football fan, I encourage you to keep reading for lessons you can apply because one thing I know about you is that you are determined and committed to lead your team to thrive. We are only wrapping up week three of the season, but here are three keys so far…
1. Have a strong bench
What actions do you consistently take to prepare for unexpected individual contributor absences? How do you manage the workload, expectations and morale when someone comes down with an illness, or has to take time off to be a caretaker? Do you scramble, become frustrated and underserve your clients? Or do you cross train so that someone can "get off the bench" and join the star players?
Be sure you have a plan, so your players will be skilled, prepared and have the tools to step in when an emergency arises. Research shows that one complaint employees have about their leaders and companies is a lack of communication and development guidance to advance to the next position. (33% said this in a recent Gallup poll). By re-skilling and upskillng, you show your team that you are committed to them, and that they are important to your organization.
Injuries are kind of normal in football, I mean it is seriously a very physical sport!
The Dallas Cowboys lost their Quarterback Dak Prescott in the first game of the season.
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers lost their QB very early in his second game (on another note, he was my fantasy QB so I had to scramble and replace him before the next game...I didn't have another QB on my bench).
These teams have back-up players who practice every week with the team and are ready...just in case.
2. Leadership starts at the top
Whether things are running smoothly or in a flux, what do your team member see and hear from you? Have you learned and practiced to remain calm, show appreciation and keep the team focused on the end goal?
Tom Brady (current Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former New England Patriot) is known as the GOAT (greatest of all time). For context, he retired last year but about two weeks later changed his mind and "un-retired". The team is filled with injuries and aren't playing well. His personal life is a "hot mess."
It shows in his leadership, too. He was so mad with how the team was underperforming, that he was yelling at team members and threw down his tablet!
Talk about leadership starts at the top (or lack of leadership). Later in the game his team mates fought with the New Orleans Saints opponents and several players were fined, two were ejected and one player was suspended and ineligible to play the next week.
Your people are watching your every move and listening to your words. It's essential to lead by example, and the example must be one that you want them to follow.
3. Never give up
One thing we know for sure...plans do not always turn out as we hope. When we are living our passion and purpose, we are determined. When adversity shows up, we don't give up. Instead, we roll up our sleeves, pull new plays from the playbook, encourage each other to block and tackle and keep pushing forward until the clock runs out.
Last week, the Miami Dolphins were down 21-7 in the second quarter. Miami came back and scored 28 points in the 4th quarter! Those Dolphins did not give up!
The Las Vegas Raiders were ahead of the Arizona Cardinals 13-0 before the half time. The Cardinals tied it in the 4th quarter and won 29-23! Those Cardinals did not give up!
What adversity are you facing now? What plays are you erasing from the playbook and pivoting to get new outcomes?
What's your consistent message to them to, inch by inch, get closer to the end zone?
Keep believing in your abilities to lead your team, rally and pour belief into them individually and as a team. They see you. They hear you.
Oh, and remember to celebrate when you score. Not just at the end of the game, but every time there is a victory with every play!
L-E-T-S G-O! Let's Go!
Did you miss my most recent LinkedIn Live event titled Achieve Unity to Unlock the Gateway to Lead Diverse Teams? You can still watch and listen here. I was honored to have two amazing guests that shared tools you may want to adopt.
https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:6970765453656813568/
If you read through this letter it validates that we are on this journey together. Thank you for showing your appreciation to me!
Let me know how I can help you with tools to become an even more effective leader.
I'm looking for more individuals like you, who are committed to cross the bridge from where they are, and take the right steps to narrow gaps...at work, at home and in the community.
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As a walking warrior and committed to the cause to end breast cancer, my walk is coming up in a few weeks. I donate a percentage of my revenue and am blessed to be able to contribute by fundraising and walking. My training and fundraising efforts are in full force.
If this is a cause that you care about, I invite you to visit my page and encourage you to donate so we can continue to research and find a cure! Within the last couple of months I've learned that two women are in fact, going through breast cancer. When you click the page scroll down to learn more and you'll see the Susan G. Komen link to donate.
To learn more about my advocacy to breast cancer, click here
Abundance to you!!!
Connect with me on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/michellebeauchamp
Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thechampgroup
Make today matter. Let's cross the bridge together to learn.grow.succeed.
Creating Significance
Michelle Beauchamp
The Champ Group
949-713-3622
www.beasaleschamp.net
