Flexible Planning: How Adaptability Can Change the Game

It was a sunny Saturday, and Dad brought news that excited all the kids in the neighbourhood: there would be a futsal tournament for children around 12 years old at Mutirama Park, and he would take us to participate. We didn't have uniforms, so we went to the Hippie Market, and my dad bought six lime green mesh tank tops for 6 reais each. My brother was 14 and couldn’t play, but he joined us to cheer for our team.

With the help of a neighbour, we fit all the kids into two cars and set off, super enthusiastic for our first tournament.

When we arrived at the event, Dad realised that the other teams had somewhat exceeded the age range, with most boys being around 13 to 14 years old. I was the oldest on our team at 12, while our youngest was only 8.

So, Dad revised our strategy for the tournament. My brother, who was initially there just to cheer, was assigned the role of goalkeeper. I, usually a forward, was repositioned as a defender to try and curb the opponents’ momentum. Dad’s strategy worked; we won the first two matches, and in the third, we qualified for the semi-final with a goal from our youngest, the 8-year-old. Unfortunately, we were eliminated in the semi-final, but we returned home very happy with how far we had come.

The moral of the story is that, no matter how important planning is, leaders must demonstrate the ability to adapt their strategies, reallocate resources, and recalculate routes. If planning alone were enough, wouldn’t 99% of companies be highly successful? Nearly every company I know has excellent plans and strategies crafted by highly competent people. The real trick is knowing how to handle the unexpected and the adversities that will inevitably arise in any field.

Oh, if only I had scored that goal in the last moments of the semi-final, eh Dad?