Your team has procedures in place, and everyone knows their responsibilities. But somehow, things still aren’t working as well as they should. Sound familiar?
When I work with clients facing this challenge, I turn to one of my favorite football analogies: the playbook.
Having a playbook doesn’t guarantee a win. Even the best teams need to know which plays to run, and when.
So, how do they decide?
After each game, coaches and players review the film to reinforce what worked and analyze what didn’t. This shows them what to keep doing and how to improve.
They also study their upcoming opponent’s strengths and weaknesses to build a game plan and choose the most effective plays. Practicing builds the muscle memory so they can work together flawlessly, and that’s the game plan.
The same approach can help leaders improve team performance.
For businesses, reviewing last week’s film means looking at things like performance data, financial reports and key performance indicators (KPIs), to see what’s working and where they need to make improvements.
Business leaders need to pay attention to what’s happening around them, the same way coaches study the other teams. That means tracking competitors, reviewing emerging technologies, and assessing clients’ changing needs.
Together, these insights reveal your “high payoff activities” – the actions that best advance your company’s goals and deserve your team’s focus.
Once you’ve identified your high-payoff activities, create a weekly game plan together. This keeps everyone on the team aligned.
Discuss what’s happening, who’s participating, and each person’s role.
A calendar alone may not provide enough clarity, so it’s important to always explain the priorities behind the activities. This helps everyone understand where to focus and how their work contributes to the bigger picture.
Everyone wants their efforts to matter. Identifying the actions that most benefit the company shows your team which plays to run. And just like in football, having the right game plan can make all the difference.
- Do you and your team know your high-payoff activities, or are you simply running plays because they’re in the playbook?
- Which things will have the greatest impact on your company’s goals?
- How could focusing on what matters most benefit everyone?
Need help identifying the activities that will have the greatest impact on your team’s performance? Let’s talk about how to get everyone focused on what matters most.