If you know me, you’ll know football isn’t my strong point. However, I have now been opened to the possibilities of contrasting football and sports in general with the principles of running a successful business and managing effective teams. This realisation struck me at the beautifully sun-lit Leeds United football stadium while I was with Stuart Blyth at onlydo.online and ex-footballer Tony Dorigo.
One key takeaway from these discussions is the importance of getting off the pitch and adopting a bird’s-eye view of what’s happening. This shift in perspective is crucial for understanding the bigger picture and aligning all efforts towards a common goal. I’ll cover parts of this concept in my upcoming workshop on planning effective marketing campaigns.
The Team and Roles
In both business and football, success hinges on the effective collaboration of various roles:
- Players and Positions: In football, each player has a specific role, whether it’s scoring goals or defending the net. Similarly, in a business, salespeople are like strikers—focused on closing deals—while marketing strategists act like midfielders, setting up opportunities and driving brand positioning. Understanding and respecting these roles is crucial for a cohesive strategy.
- Team Coordination: Just as players must communicate and work together to score goals, different departments in a business must align their efforts. Sales and marketing teams must collaborate closely, ensuring marketing campaigns support sales objectives and vice versa.
The Pitch-Level Perspective
Focussing solely on the immediate play can lead to a narrow, shortsighted approach:
- The Myopic View: In football, players on the field can get caught up in the moment, missing strategic opportunities. Similarly, businesses often get bogged down in day-to-day operations, missing broader market trends and strategic shifts.
- Real-time Decisions: While quick, tactical decisions are necessary—like a last-minute play on the field—making these is dangerous without considering the overall game plan. Businesses must balance urgent issues with strategic thinking to avoid reactive, short-term decision-making.
The Bird’s-Eye Perspective
A bird’s-eye view allows for strategic planning and holistic insight:
- Strategic Planning: As the head coach and manager oversees the game, business leaders must understand the market landscape, customer behaviour, and competitive dynamics. This high-level view helps set clear, long-term goals and align resources accordingly.
- Holistic Insight: By stepping back and analysing data and trends, businesses can identify patterns and opportunities that aren’t visible from the ground level. This perspective helps in making informed decisions that align with broader business objectives.
Strategy and Tactics
Balancing strategy and tactics is key to winning games and achieving business success:
- Game Plan (Business/Marketing Strategy): A successful football team follows a game plan, knowing when to attack and when to defend. Similarly, businesses need a well-defined strategy that outlines how to achieve growth, enter new markets, and respond to competition.
- Adaptability: Just as a football team adjusts its tactics during a game, businesses must be agile in adapting their strategies in response to changing market conditions, new technologies, and competitor actions.
Communication and Leadership
Effective communication and strong leadership are crucial:
- Coach/Manager’s Role: Football’s head coach and manager is akin to business leadership—guiding the team, motivating players, and creating a winning culture. In business, leaders must inspire and align their teams, ensuring everyone works towards common goals.
- In-Game Communication: Clear communication is vital for executing plays on the field. In business, transparent and consistent communication across departments ensures that marketing strategies support sales efforts and that both teams are aligned with the overall business strategy.
Performance Metrics and Feedback
Metrics and feedback loops drive continuous improvement:
- Scoreboard and Analytics: In football, the scoreboard reflects team performance—goals, assists, fouls. In business, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) serve the same purpose: measuring sales growth, market share, customer acquisition, and more.
- Continuous Improvement: Post-game analysis is critical in football to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Similarly, businesses should regularly review their performance metrics, analyse successes and failures, and refine their strategies accordingly.
Just as a football team needs to balance on-field tactics with an overarching strategy, businesses must adopt a comprehensive view that integrates detailed operational decisions with long-term planning. By moving from a pitch-level perspective to a bird’s-eye view, leaders can ensure their teams are aligned, strategies are coherent, and the business is poised for sustained success.
As a leader, it’s time to reassess your approach. Step back from the day-to-day, elevate your perspective, and see the entire field. This broader view will help you navigate immediate challenges and position your business for long-term growth and success.
