Putting On Your Nation’s Uniform at 50+: Nothing Changes

"Whether you're wearing a jersey or a blazer, success comes down to the same fundamentals: shared culture, strong cohesion, clear roles, and aligned strategy and execution." – Shannon Byrne Susko

Hello High-Growth Leaders,

After an incredible experience representing Canada at the World Masters Field Hockey Championships in New Zealand, I’ve been reflecting on the deeper meaning of wearing your nation’s uniform—of truly playing as part of a diverse and united team.

Whether you're 20, 30, 50, or even over 70 like many at the tournament, the fundamentals of team success remain constant: a clear culture, strong cohesion, well-defined roles and expectations, and a shared commitment to understanding and executing the winning strategy.

Watching our coach bring together players from across the country was like witnessing the Metronomics Growth Operating System in action. It reminded me that everything I learned about building a high-performing, winning team came from one of my first field hockey coaches. The whole Metronomics system is based off these principles.

The same principles apply to business leadership teams, especially as you think about your approach to fiscal years 2025 and 2027, as well as your 10-30 year goal.

Here’s what I took away from the field—and how it relates to your business team.

Clarity of Culture

No matter your age or background, the first priority is culture. Our coach emphasized shared values, behaviors, consistent language and the standards we’d hold each other to as teammates. It wasn’t just about playing—it was about who we wanted to be as a team.

In Metronomics, this mirrors defining and embedding your cultural foundation. As you gear up for 2025:

• Does your leadership team share clarity on your core values?
• Are those values consistently guiding decisions and actions?

Cohesion Over Individual Talent

Even with decades of playing experience, we quickly realized that individual skill only goes so far. To win, we had to rely on trust and alignment as a team. The same is true for business teams: cohesion beats individual talent every time.

In Metronomics, this is where the One Page Growth Plan shines, ensuring everyone moves in the same direction. Reflect on your team:

• Is your team united by a clear vision for 2025?
• Are individual contributions aligned with the company’s overarching goals?

Clarity of Roles and Expectations

On the field, everyone had a role—and confusion wasn’t an option. We knew exactly where we needed to be and what we needed to do, which allowed us to execute quickly and effectively.

In business, Metronomics’ “Right People, Right Seats” principle ensures that every team member plays to their strengths in alignment with the company’s goals. As you plan for 2025, ask:

• Are your team’s roles and responsibilities crystal clear?
• Is your organization designed for your plan?
• Does every leader understand how their role drives the strategy forward?

Strategy and Execution Alignment

Our team’s strategy was simple but clear: it outlined how we’d win and how we’d adapt. Execution became instinctive because we knew the plan and had practiced it rhythmically.

This is the core of Metronomics: turning strategy into a system that’s easy to execute. For fiscal 2025:

• Is your strategy clear and actionable?
• Do you have a 3-Year Highly Achievable goal mapped out?
• Are your execution rhythms—quarterly, monthly, weekly—aligned to keep your team on track?

The Metronomics Connection

As I reflect, it’s clear our team was a living example of the Metronomics Growth Operating System:

• Culture: Built on shared values and mutual trust.
• Clarity: Everyone knew their role and how it contributed to the team’s success.
• Cohesion: Alignment allowed us to operate as one unit.
• Rhythms: Consistent feedback and adjustments kept us performing at our best throughout the 10-day tournament.

The same system works in the boardroom. Metronomics provides the framework for your leadership team to align, execute, and achieve ambitious goals—together.

What This Means for Fiscal 2025

As you prepare for the new year, consider:

• Is your leadership team culturally aligned and cohesive?
• Are expectations, roles, and accountabilities clearly defined?
• Is your strategy not just set but actionable, supported by strong execution rhythms?

Putting on the uniform—whether it’s for your nation or your business—requires the same level of commitment and alignment. With Metronomics, you have the playbook to ensure your team operates as a cohesive, high-performing unit ready to win in 2025.

We did not win the tournament—we won some games and lost others, placing 10th in our division—but we definitely won in our growth as team members and as a team! Huge thank you to my teammates and, of course, our Coach for leading the way!!

Yours in growth,

Shannon Byrne Susko

Founder & CEO, Metronomics

Connect with me

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are some resources that could help you on your growth journey…

1. Join one of my upcoming workshops to learn more about business growth and how to apply it to achieve the growth you want.

2. Take the business growth phase assessment to discover where your business stands in its growth journey, and get a report based on your answers delivered directly to your inbox.

3. Grab a copy of one of my best-selling books?- I recommend 'The M Game' - this book is a best-seller and has been read by thousands of CEOs globally. It?is a?must read for any CEO who is stuck on the journey of growing a business.