Happy Labor Day!

Summer is fading fast and around here that means one thing … Football!

If you’re not quite as excited as we are, don’t worry … We’re not here just to talk sports.

But when you really think about it, there are a lot of parallels between building a successful business and building a career as a professional athlete.

For starters, there’s the fact that both take an incredible amount of planning, hard work, and determination …

And for the few with the stick-to-itiveness to persevere through adversity, entrepreneurship and professional sports both come with some pretty awesome rewards!

In the NFL, perhaps the ultimate reward is winning the Super Bowl … Something Coach Bill Belichick has done with his team SIX times!

Like him or not, the guy knows a thing or two about what it takes to reach Big Hairy Audacious Goals.

So while his “Do Your Job” mantra may sound simple, we think it’s worth taking a closer look at to find out how we might apply his philosophy to our leadership roles within our businesses.

Make a game plan … And communicate it.

During the architect phase of the 3-Step Process for Building Your Business we talk about mapping out your business blueprint.

But what good is a playbook without a team to run the routes?

As a leader, clearly casting a vision and communicating how to get there is key to getting the team fired up and ready to execute a winning strategy.

Set the expectation.

Clearly defining what role each member of the team plays and how they fit into the overall strategy helps create accountability.

That’s why one of our values at OTS is extreme ownership.

If each member of the team successfully carries out his or her part of the plan, the team as a whole will be successful too.

Stay alert.

On the field or off, if we can eliminate blind spots and become fully aware of what’s happening in the greater ecosystem, we can better identify and solve minor issues before they become big ones.

One way we can achieve this in business is to create an environment of honest communication where everyone feels comfortable enough to throw a flag on the play when they see a penalty.

Train hard.

A good coach helps their players develop the skills they need to excel in their position … Even against the toughest opponents.

As leaders, we can prepare our team to take on any initiative by clearly communicating procedure changes and frequently revisiting the organization’s fundamental values, mission, and vision.

And of course as humans, there will be plenty of teachable moments … But we can stop mistakes from reoccurring by sharing the lessons with the whole team when they happen.

T.E.A.M – Together everyone achieves more.

Every team has its superstars … But even the best QB needs a strong offensive line and an open receiver to avoid getting sacked or throwing an interception.

Putting too much reliance on your strongest players will inevitably lead to burnout.

In a positive high trust culture, team members have a mutual respect for one another and believe in each other’s intentions and abilities. In turn, they’re more likely to take pride in their work and carry out their responsibilities to the best of their ability for the greater good.

By celebrating small wins as a group, we gain momentum and help foster a positive team environment where each person feels encouraged, appreciated and believes they truly make a difference.

And when we feel good about what we do, we’re all more likely to “do our job” and reach our goals faster.

Go Team!!!

As mission-driven leaders, we’re passionate about creating winning cultures to serve our teams and our audiences at large!

Cheers to winning as a team!