TEAM BUILDING
What team sports taught me about running a company
Anthony Gilbert
Sep 5, 2018, 8:19 pm
There are as many reasons young people get involved in team sports as there are sports to get involved in. Some are prodded by their parents. Others join to be part of a group. There are those who view sports as a way to demonstrate physical or skill superiority and others who are simply competitive by nature.
Sports are compelling to many because they speak to conflicts and struggles that we deal with in the “real world”. For some, team sports is a fleeting phase in life. For others, it becomes a mainstay and a part of who they are.
For me, the fundamentals involved in team sports provided a baseline of core beliefs that have proved to be highly valuable in running a company.
In team sports, players have to not only trust in their coaches and managers but to trust their teammates as well. If a team relies too much on one player, it minimizes the impact of the team. Players should be able to rely on each other and trust they will pick up their assignments. If not, a player may try to cover for a teammate, perhaps putting themselves out of position to handle their own assignment. In business, this can translate into micromanaging instead of focusing on your own work. Sure, people need to be managed and interventions may need to occasionally be made, but when there is trust and everyone understands the big picture and their role in it, it creates an energy and synchronicity that is tough to beat.
Energy, effort, enthusiasm and drive are contagious. When leaders on a team demonstrate these qualities, others have an innate desire to follow. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. It is worth noting that effort often takes, well, effort. But considering every day we are either improving or regressing, the effort is well worth it. It is worth it in not only the productivity and superior performance it provides, but in the energetic environment that results.
Planning to win can help you believe you can win. This is a very powerful principle in both team sports and business. Sure, you need to have backup plans and insurance policies for when things go awry but if you don't believe you can win or have a chance, opportunities are limited. Big upsets happen and they generally start with a well-thought-out plan that eventually manifests itself in belief. Legendary NFL coach Chuck Knox is credited with saying “Always have a plan and believe in it. Nothing happens by accident.” It is just one of many motivational quotes on the subject.
In sports, as in business, everyone can improve. When a team comes off of a big win and they begin to believe they can just coast, they are primed to be upset. We've all witnessed teams who have experienced great success only to be followed by a disappointing loss or season. We've seen that in corporations as well. But we've also seen great franchises built through continuous improvement. There's always room for improvement and we must seek out those areas that can serve us best.
Psychology Today has its own list of reasons sports can benefit teenagers, one of which is that it teaches us nothing is easy. Winning takes grit, commitment, overcoming barriers, and consistent effort. These are all traits so extremely valuable in running a company.
Team sports offer unlimited life lessons and insights on how to run a business or simply interact with others in our day-to-day life. They build trust and demonstrate the value of continuous improvement. Through team sports, we can learn the benefits of well-laid plans and how effort is contagious. While nothing in life may come easy, there is always room for improvement, and that improvement is worth chasing. There is, after all, a good reason many team sports use the term "goal".
Anthony Gilbert is the owner of The RealFX Group. Anthony specializes in real estate lead generation and marketing.
The Houston Texans have a big challenge in store as they look to start the season with a win against the Colts this Sunday. When these two teams met in Week 2 last year, the Colts dominated the Texans, despite losing their QB Anthony Richardson to a concussion after the first quarter.
Keeping Richardson contained on Sunday will go a long way in increasing the Texans' chances of coming home with a win. The Texans defense will have their hands full containing the Colts backs and tight ends in the passing game.
Scoring touchdowns with their wide receivers could prove difficult, as the Texans allowed the second-fewest TDs (10) to the receiver position in 2023.
Limiting running back Jonathan Taylor will also be a top priority. While the Texans had an elite defense against the run last season, they struggled with Taylor in Week 18 as he almost rushed for 200 yards.
Houston's D allowed only four carries to running backs in 2023 that went for 20 or more yards. Two of which were to Taylor in the final game of the regular season.
Finally, DeMeco Ryans and company have to find a way to get pressure on the QB. They only had one QB hit and zero sacks on Richardson and Garner Minshew the first time they faced off last year.
On offense, the Texans have two big x-factors to watch for on Sunday. The offensive line that suited up to play the Colts in Week 2 last season is completely different from this year.
The o-line was ravaged with injuries to start the 2023 campaign, so we expect a big jump in productivity in the trenches this year.
Another big addition in 2024 is the presence of running back Joe Mixon. The running game only produced 2 yards per rush in Week 2 against Indy last year, so there's clearly room for improvement.
Be sure to watch the video above for our in-depth preview of Texans-Colts!
And catch Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) live on our SportsMapTexans YouTube channel following every game this season!