I have run my own companies, worked for large multi nationals as well as smaller boutique firms and during my 30 years of business it has come to my attention that businesses are very similar to a sports team. In fact I would go as far to say they are exactly like a sports team…

When establishing a football team, different skills are required depending on the position in the team. Some players are more flexible than others in the positions they can play in, others are not so good. Some train harder than their team mates, some want to win, some don’t want to lose and a few are not concerned about their team or winning.

Similarly, if you are unable to look after your sports ‘stars’ you will lose them; individuals who feel their talent is wasted in the team will look for new team to play for. The best option would be for them to talk to their manager and explain how they feel; a resolution to their problem may be found enabling them to stay within their current team. If this solution suits the team, player and manager, it’s a win win situation for all parties.

A TEAM / COMPANY MUST SCORE MORE GOALS THAN IT LETS IN
Every day is a new game, whether sales, marketing, finance, etc, we all strive to be better today than we did the day before; our knowledge and experience of the day before will assist us to work more effectively today.

Smaller teams tend to rely on the job share whereby one person may cover several roles. A football player is not given a job spec. They are required to perform at their best on the field as well as cover others when necessary.

SPORT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND TEAM INVOLVEMENT
Does your company play as a team or as individual primadonnas?
We could say that the goalkeeper represents the Chief Financial Officer; no money should slip through their fingers, the Salesman is the centre forward, the goal scorer, they need to score as many gaols as possible creating money into the business. But they both need support from their team mates.

The coach could therefore be referred to as the Managing Director or the Chief Executive Officer. When a player is not performing to their best potential they may have to substitute them or re-train.

An employee is an expense to a company similarly to a football player; sales must be made in order to cover these expenses, if the sales (goals) are not made, players may not be able to keep their positions. When this happens teams may become disgruntled.  An unhappy team may never win because working together is unlikely to happen.

TRUST
If trust is not present, a team cannot be formed; we must trust that all players are capable of fulfilling their own roles.
When a player calls for the ball we must trust and pass to him/her.

HONESTY
Tell the truth, be honest, explain what you can’t do in your position in the team; encourage others in the team even if they are not playing that well. People generally perform better when motivated and the smallest of things can often motivate. Communicate with your team members; do not whisper (through e-mails) they won’t hear you. The midfielders do not text or e-mail the winger, they communicate quickly and precisely what he wants and adapts to the pass he receives.

ONE DAY YOU MAY LOSE
‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again’. Don’t worry about the loss; it should always be a concern but never a loss of sleep. Learn from it and look to get a win next time. Learn to adapt to produce better results next time.

Just understand the need for team spirit and work as a unit

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