Turn Work Into a Game

Does it feel like your team is going through the motions?

I was chatting with a new friend recently, Rev. Michael Daniel Sgro, CPBC?? and the topic of employee engagement came up. We were talking about the challenges of employees working from various locations (i.e. homes, offices, regional offices) and leaders feeling as though they are not receiving full engagement and performance from their teams. This can be a very frustrating and overwhelming feeling. But don’t panic, there is a solution.

Your Path to Performance

Take a moment and think about a championship sports team from the past. If you are lucky, this could be one of your favorite college or pro teams that you follow. Either way, think about that team and what they accomplished. This particular team and this group of individuals achieved the ultimate prize. They climbed to the mountain top and won it all. They were the best, the champions.

Now ask yourself, why?

Why did that particular team win? What did they do that put them in a position to win? What separated them from the rest?

Champions become champions for two reasons:

1. They have a common goal – A Championship Goal
2. They create a process to work towards that goal

Habit Guru, James Clear, wrote a great article on this a few years ago – Goals vs. Systems

The Journey to Success

Championship teams separate themselves from the rest by getting everyone on the team moving in the same direction. Once you all start moving in the same direction, the momentum begins to build. As you start moving towards your championship goal, each player begins to look at everything they are doing and ask themselves “What do I need to do to perform at my highest level?”

Team members start to put the team goal above anything else. Each player begins to make sacrifices for the greater good of the team. Each player starts to push their boundaries and abilities, for the greater good of the team.

As each player begins to buy into the championship goal the “positive” snowball begins to grow. Think of this as the ripple effect. With the commitment and positive energy from each player on the team, trust grows, confidence grows, accountability grows, and results start to follow. The team is winning games, the team is overcoming adversity, and the team is beginning to believe.

The snowball continues to grow. With each expansion of the snowball, the commitment from each player grows. Each day, players work to be better than yesterday. Each day, players work to improve in areas that may be holding them back.

As the season progresses and the team moves into the playoffs, the process of commitment to the championship goal leads them forward. They work together in practice, they meet together in the locker room, and they continue to push themselves and the team to new heights.

With each success that happens, their confidence and determination grow. They can feel themselves getting closer to their goal. That feeling drives them even further to get better. As they approach the championship game, their commitment throughout the season has them ready, their belief in themselves has them ready, and they feel that nothing is going to stop them from achieving their goal.

How This Relates to Business

When you have a collective group of players and coaches who are fully committed to one goal, you can achieve amazing things. That commitment requires a laser focus on the championship goal where every decision and every action is working towards that goal.

Business is the same way!!! When you can get leaders and team members all moving in the same direction, all working towards a common goal. You can achieve amazing results.

What often happens in business is that everyone is moving in slightly different directions. Sometimes there are multiple goals that teams are working towards or sometimes the goals aren’t clear. When leaders and teams are not working in the same direction, frustration and disengagement can take over.

Ask Yourself These Questions Today!

1) How would they turn out right now?

2) Do you have them all moving in the same direction?

3) Do you have them fully committed to a championship goal?

Turn work into a game and you can turn your team into a championship sports team!!!!

LR5 Consulting