Performance Management and Sports

Watching the Chicago Blackhawks this year has reminded me of the similarities between how we manage performance in business and how it's managed in sports.

First of all, it's important that you have a play book. In business we think of this as our business strategy and those objectives that must be accomplished. Can you imagine what a sports team would do without a play book? What if a coach said to his/her team "hey, y'all just go on out there and play and it'll all figure itself out. And oh by the way, I'll just let you know when the game is over." It would be chaotic to say the least. Well, it's the same in business - we have to have clear objectives and everyone on the team needs to know what they're expected to do and by when.

In sports, measurement is done religiously. As I was watching the game tonight, the sportscasters had statistics on everything - they clearly measure performance and the players know what counts. The same must be done in business wherever possible and it's possible more than one might think. I believe that most people want to achieve their objectives and more but they need to know what they are in order to accomplish them.

And in sports, the players on the same team don't compete with each other while they're playing the game. The same must be true in business. You can't compete internally (and you know who you are!) without it eventually killing your team - don't do it! Look at how sports teams celebrate their wins - they hug and win together. That's how it should be at work as well.

And finally, just as the sports coach is constantly pushing for peak performance - knowing when to push and knowing when to back off, so too must the business leader coach his/her team. This is really an essential element to the work of a leader and it takes great skill and it requires that the leader actually knows the employee and how he/she is motivated. But when it's done right, it's probably the most rewarding work of a leader.

So I'm hoping that the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup this year, but if they don't I hope they know that they've been a great example of great teamwork. And great teamwork leads to great performance - I'm certain of it.