SPORTS vs BUSINESS
After I have spoken to schools and business I have been approached a couple of times asking why I like to use sporting terminologies. For me the answer is simple and has 3 parts. I would love to hear your thoughts and if you agree or disagree, and why
1) Almost everyone understands sporting terminologies
2) Business, schools and sporting teams run off a similar structure
3) My background and expertise is to raise Vitality and Performance. This comes from my years as an athlete, coach and trainer in sports.
Let me explain these steps further
1) ALMOST EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS SPORTING TERMINOLOGIES
It doesn't matter if you have played the sport at an international level, professional level, club level or not at all. Even if you have never stepped foot on football field you can still be an armchair athlete and understand the rules and nuances of the game. The concepts and ideas can be understood by the majority of people. I have spoken to football teams, schools and even at Financial conferences. I am not a financial “guru”, I am not a principal of a school, but I am a former athlete and coach that knows how to get the most out of myself and my team.
2) BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND SPORTING TEAMS RUN OFF A SIMILAR STRUCTURE
People often give me a strangle look when I first tell them this, but then I explain further and them the majority understand. It is another reason why top Coaches and Athletes often transition into top Business leaders. They all run off a hierarchical system.
There are the CEO’s and Managers in businesses.
Principals and Teachers at School.
Head Coaches and Trainers in a sports team.
They have underneath that their employees, students and players respectively.
In order to perform at their best the players should stick to their position in the team and play their specific role. In games such as netball the specific positions can only operate in certain areas of the court. It isn't a free for all, and if you try to play outside your position the entire team gets penalised.
3) MY EXPETRISE IS TO RAISE VITALITY AND PERFORMANCE
If I was to try and talk the “lingo” from the particular arena I was speaking in I would get caught out pretty quick. This would have a massive flow on effect to my credibility, and therefore my presentation would be worthless. If I was to go out and try to tell some financial guys how to best combat their fiscal troubles, or how they can turn a negative into a positive cash flow on their balance sheet, they would laugh me off the stage (and rightfully so). But using my strengths I can help people and therefore their “team” raise their vitality and their performance. Ultimately companies bring me in to give them systems and strategies to raise their vitality, morale, teamwork and performance. The companies bring in specialists in different areas, and so long as I know the outcome and I know my position in the team I will deliver more often than not.
Those are the basic reasons why I choose to use sporting terminologies. As mentioned above I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic, both for and against the reasons I have mentioned above
David
