The Sideline Seat Sent every Tuesday to help you build a better team. Sports Story of the Week The Weekend of Comebacks Admittedly, when there is a weekend full of sports, I sometimes find myself searching for the "best" and "closest" game even when "my" teams are playing. This happened to me Saturday night. While watching my beloved Hokie Softball team, who was down by 5 runs with one inning left, I flipped over to check the status of the Hockey game (crossover seasons are hard in this...
17 days ago • 3 min read
The Sideline Seat Sent every Tuesday to help you build a better team. Sports Story of the Week Where in the World is Aaron Rodgers? Yes, please read that in the tune of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego" (IYKYK) Aaron Rodgers, the veteran NFL quarterback, has been at the center of ongoing drama surrounding his future in the league. As an avid ESPN Get Up fan, the discussion and translation of the quotes coming out of Pittsburgh has become a morning ritual. The very long, very public...
24 days ago • 2 min read
A Special Monday Announcement: You Asked, I Answered! I have heard a lot recently on the challenges of leading and managing multigenerational teams. As much as you have learned about the generations, you want to know what you can do better to create better teams and be a better leader. I heard you loud and clear. So I am happy to announce that we have planned a dynamic, hands-on workshop to unlock collaboration, communication, and performance across your multi-generational teams. Led with a...
26 days ago • 1 min read
The Sideline Seat Sent every Tuesday to help you build a better team. Sports Story of the Week Ocelli, the $12,000 Misfit Ocelli almost didn’t make the Kentucky Derby at all. He gained entry only after another horse’s injury opened a slot, but his trainer was ready. While Ocelli was a "maiden", having never won a single race, he had spent months quietly collecting points and building a case for himself. Despite drawing the dreaded Post 20 (the worst gate in the field) and facing 70-1 odds,...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
The Sideline Seat 1 Mindset Shift. 1 Sports Story. 3 Actionable Takeaways. Sent every Tuesday to help you build a better team. The Mindset Shift: Intensity without Structure is Chaos When a team is in a high-pressure situation, it is common to demand more intensity, to push harder, move faster, and get more aggressive. Most teams in these moments don’t actually need more intensity, what they need is structure and support. When a team can’t solve a problem skillfully, they start solving it...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
The Sideline Seat 1 Mindset Shift. 1 Sideline Story. 3 Actionable Takeaways. Sent every Tuesday to help you build a better team. The Mindset Shift: Work Hard, Play Hard, Have Fun Most leaders treat hard work and fun as inversely related. That having one means sacrificing the other. We assume that if a team is laughing, joking, and just having an absolute blast, then they aren’t giving their best. In the same way, we think that if we want to be elite, then we have to submit to the grind, a...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
The Sideline Seat 1 Mindset Shift. 1 Sideline Story. 3 Actionable Takeaways. Sent every Tuesday to help you build a better team. The Mindset Shift: High Standards = High Engagement Most leaders lower expectations out of fear. Fear of losing employees or fear of the uncomfortable conversations that comes with accountability. However, high standards don’t push people away. It actually pulls the right people in. When you lower the bar to please some, you signal that you will tolerate mediocrity...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
The Sideline Seat 1 Mindset Shift. 1 Sideline Story. 3 Actionable Takeaways. Sent every Tuesday to help you build a better team. The Mindset Shift: Most leadership cultures are addicted to the adrenaline of a big win. We often treat leadership like a sprint toward a summit, but in reality, there is no peak. The mountain just keeps going. Your team doesn't need a superhero to appear and save the day during a crisis. They need a professional who is accessible, predictable, and present....
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
The Sideline Seat 1 Mindset Shift. 1 Sideline Story. 3 Actionable Takeaways. Sent every Tuesday to help you build a better team. The Mindset Shift: We have to move away from justifying advancement or compensation solely on seniority. The modern business environment and culture rewards adaptability, innovation and continuous improvement. We need to shift from tenure-based systems to performance-driven cultures. Sideline Story: The NFL Officials CBA The NFL and NFL Referees Association (NFLRA)...
2 months ago • 1 min read