Jack C. Randall, CIC, PCLA, PFMM
©Randall Resources Int’l – All rights reserved.
What’s keeping your team from moving forward with full unity? In today’s fast-paced business culture, it’s not uncommon that many management teams and boards unintentionally frustrate each other. Without a conscious, concerted means to unify, future success becomes vague and ambiguous. The truth is… people tend to see and select company goals based on their own, unique perspective!
On October 25, 1964, NFL history was made.
The Minnesota Vikings were playing the San Francisco 49ers in a fierce game. Jim Marshall, defensive end for the Vikings, scooped up a 49ers fumble and dashed 66 yards at lightning speed to succeed in crossing the goal line in the end zone in front of him. The problem was, the goal line he crossed was in the WRONG END ZONE for his team! How could a mistake like this have happened? Jim was a talented, highly-trained professional. His heart and motives were right. But, in a moment of confusion, the goal he mistakenly sought to attain wasn’t the same goal his team nor his team’s fans wanted.
Your company’s situation is quite similar.
Even with the best of attitudes and intentions, people in your organization can pursue goals they, themselves, believe are appropriate – but the rest of the team may not agree, a failure in expectations occurs, and “bingo!”, conflict results.
There is a preventative cure.
Yes, there is a preventative cure for the ‘Jim Marshall syndrome’ in your company! Here are 6 proven key actions to get your entire team pursuing the same end zone goal line:
- Crystalize Your Mission.
A well-written Mission Statement can provide laser-like focus on who your company is and why you exist. Dust off your Mission Statement. Since your Mission should change rarely, update it only if absolutely necessary. If one doesn’t exist, create one. Be sure everyone on the team is keenly aware of your Mission. Too fundamental? Absolutely not! If your true Mission or goal gets hazy, that’s where many problems start.
Former New York Jets football coach, Herm Edwards, said it best, and very frankly:
“You play to win the game. Hello. You play to win the game. You don’t play it just to play it. That’s the great thing about sports: you play to win, and I don’t care if you don’t have any wins. You go play to win. When you start tellin’ me it doesn’t matter, then retire. Get out! ‘Cause it matters.”
Never forget the critical importance of the Mission that your entire team is striving to accomplish.
- Create a Unified Vision.
A shared, unified “picture of success” is so important for any team. In that moment years ago, Jim Marshall was focused on his own “tunnel-visioned” picture of the goal he thought he should pursue. Had he simply turned his head to glance at the rest of his team, he would have seen that his goal was not the same as their desired goal—as based on their gesturing feedback.
Fortunately, your company can learn a lesson from Jim’s example. All it takes is the investment of a small amount of time for your board and management to come together and create a shared, unified Vision. This Vision is a written document – a detailed, written “picture” of the various desired goals and aspects of the future company your group, as a team, wants to create in 5-years. By creating this type of Vision tool, everyone on your team can “see” the same “picture” reference and pursue goals with alignment, unity, and clarity.
- Craft a Shared Plan.
Every professional football team has a specific strategic plan for their next game. The opponent’s defensive and offensive strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies are carefully evaluated. Comparing those with that of their own team, a strategy is planned and communicated to everyone on the team. Similarly, your organization also needs a plan – a long-term strategic plan (a 5-year strategic plan has proven to be very effective for business planning). While you need a good offense AND defense, your concentration must focus on your offense – those specific actions you are committing to own and accomplish, along with specific benchmark numbers you wish to achieve. Your competition is formidable and skilled, too. So don’t simply look for someone else’s fumble. You have to come prepared with your BEST game.
- Communicate as You Proceed.
A football team goes into a huddle to succinctly discuss details of the next play(s) to be taken. Every staff member and team member involved must be included in the communication. It would be unthinkable to just simply walk up to the ball, hike it, and see what happens. Likewise, everyone on your team needs to keenly understand what is to happen, the order and timing in which it is to happen, and the players to be involved. Last-minute changes may be needed at times, so don’t be afraid to call out an “audible” to make the final adjustments.
- Correct as Needed.
In football, a half-time break is a great opportunity for the team to come together and evaluate how the original game plan is working—or not working! Open dialogue is shared and adjustments are made and agreed upon. In your company, adjustments may also need to be made to your original plan in terms of plan scope, timing, or personnel involved. As you pursue your strategic plan, be sure to set aside specific, designated time to periodically pause, evaluate, and make adjustments as needed.
- Celebrate Success!
This one is so simple, but so important. Don’t overlook it. For some, it might be a full-fledged party with fireworks. Maybe for you, it’s cake and ice cream. Or maybe it’s a simple “Thank-you” for the specific work you contributed. Any team gets motivated with added energy when goals are conquered and celebrated!
Yes, success for any team can be very sweet, but the truly great teams know that success doesn’t come by accident. It takes effort, communication, and unified, coordinated action by using all 6 of the above actions to function in unison toward the same end zone goals. Which one do you need to add to your play-list?
At Randall Resources, our goal is clear…
Our goal is to help you and your organization plan for and achieve a successful future that can be even brighter than your past! Give us a call…
To Your Success,
Jack