Desk Chair Quarterbacking

Lee Hecht Harrison looks at why you should discuss the Big Game in the workplace.

Once the office pool is settled and the water cooler list of best commercials is solidified, your team should take a moment to reflect on the excellent demonstration of collaboration by the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday. Leadership, timely decisions, risk-taking and solid preparation all played a role in the Saints’ victory – and they are all crucial elements in a successful workplace. And, while individual talent is a key factor in victory, how your team produces is the defining element. Here are a few key takeaways from Sunday’s Big Game.

Make adjustments.
At the start of the second half, it was clear New Orleans had audited their competition and made mid-game changes to counter their actions. In fact, the Saints set the tone from the very start of the second half when they recovered an unexpected onside kick and marched down the field to take the lead. From that point on, you could see that this team had a lot more confidence in their ability to control the ball against the Colts.

In the same way, it’s critical to read the changing needs of your team, your market, your competition and your industry and know how to make adjustments in order to thrive. Changing your core offering isn’t essential, but updating your method for delivery might be.   Just like the Saints changed the tone of the game in the second half, your business may need to make modifications in order to remain a player in your industry.

Know that not all risks will pay off.
Every coach’s decisions will be second guessed at some point. Had the Saints lost by 3 points or fewer, Sean Payton would have been maligned for unsuccessfully going for a touchdown on fourth and goal in the second quarter. However, he showed, by calling for the onside kick to start the second half that one failure wasn’t going to deter him from taking another risk. This time, it paid off for him.

It takes an experienced leader to know the capabilities of his team while anticipating future demands. Coach Sean Payton acted with faith, determination and a keen awareness of his team’s capabilities. In the workplace, we often find that great risk can lead to great reward – or, great failure. The decision to take risks should be calculated based on the ability and track record of your team – evaluate all potential outcomes before making a decision and understand that not all risks will be successful.   

Prepare for success.
When Tracy Porter intercepted Peyton Manning and returned the ball 74 yards for a touchdown with 3:12 remaining, he sealed the victory for the New Orleans Saints. But, Porter wasn’t simply in the right place at the right time – he noticed the Colts running a specific pass route that he studied repeatedly and used this knowledge to make one of the game’s key plays.

"In film study, I was seeing it over and over on third down, that was a big route for them to convert on," Porter said. "The film studying that we had done all week and preparing for the Super Bowl, that route came just like I was watching it on film and I made a break on it."

In the workplace, doing your homework pays off as well. Understanding the successes and failures of the past and the patterns of your workforce and your industry can go a long way in helping you shape a successful future.

Individual talent is important. But the goal is to build a winning team.
The Saints vs. Colts match up clearly demonstrated the potential a team creates for themselves through collaboration. Individual by individual – the match up favored the Colts, but the synergy created by the Saints was simply unbeatable on that given day. For the Saints, the shared goal was clearly communicated by their leader, Sean Payton, and executed by leaders on the field, like Drew Brees, Tracy Porter, kicker Garrett Hartley and others. In the workplace, it’s important to ensure all team members understand their shared goals and the rewards of company success. 

Every successful team needs strong leadership.
Much like a coach, senior leaders in the work environment have the benefit of being able to take a strategic view – of looking at the office like a field of interdependently working members toward a common goal while the competition sets up across the field. A successful senior leader surrounds themselves with a talented team and solicits their input. Information is gathered and strategic decisions are made. Much like Sean Payton’s style – business decisions should be quick, strategic and based on the input of a wealth of diverse input.

For more workplace insights on everything from team building to leadership development, visit LHH.com.