Run It Like A Professional Sports Team

"Whatever you are willing to put up with is exactly what you will have."

-Anonymous

 

The other day I was facilitating a strategic planning session with a new client. He had recently purchased the business. It generates about $2 million in sales and he has about 8 employees and is fairly profitable, but there is a great deal of room for improvement.  

When we began talking about the core values and culture he said,  "I want this to be like a family here."

I could not help but smile and I said why? He was taken aback and proceeded to defend his comment with a lot of warm and fuzzy things that make families seem perfect.  

Think about it. Most families are very dysfunctional. Some members don't talk to each other or avoid each other as much as possible. They rarely work as a team. You can't kick members out if they don't share the values of the others. They tend to fight more than most groups, because "we are family", etc.

So here is my take - you don't want to build a business like a family. To be successful you need to run a business like a sports team. No, I take that back, run it like a Professional Sports team.

The team must perform the best in every position. The team plays the game and success depends on the team playing well and playing together for a common purpose. The team is only as strong as its weakest link. The players want to only have the best team members in each position and they understand and want management to continue to strengthen the team because it will strengthen them.

So as you build this team you have to coach it, not manage it. Coaching means a focus on making each team member the best they can be. It means not playing the game yourself. Your success depends on the team and its players performing each Sunday at their best. It means everyone (team, fans and coaches) want the best players in every position. It means drafting, cutting, free agency are all part of the game. I suggest you think of your company as a Professional Sports Team and begin leading it like a great Coach.

If you to learn more about the distinction between managing and coaching, read this.