The champions have been crowned and the madness is subsiding. But for businesses everywhere, the game’s far from over.
Many organizations may have started the first quarter of 2021 a bit unsure of ourselves, but we’re adjusting to a new style of play and are finding our strides again. How’d that happen? What did we learn? Which hard-learned lessons can we depend on?
Stick to the fundamentals
A superstar’s tomahawk dunk looks awesome. The crowd loves it! But don’t forget how many times victory comes down to the team who’s mastered the fundamentals – dribbling, passing, shooting.
Businesses determined to succeed in a post-2020 world know the value of mastering the basics. They’ve (re)learned what’s truly necessary to thrive. Offer and produce quality goods and services. Know and serve your customers. Listen to and value your employees.
“Get the fundamentals down, and the level of everything you do will rise.” – Michael Jordan
Stay focused and ready
The player who skips practices gets benched. A player who’s distracted by the hottie in the fourth row gets a ball to the head. No one really wants to be those players.
Today’s successful businesses have learned maintaining focus is both more important and more challenging than ever. An organization that understands its goals and works to accomplish them in a conscientious manner will win. At the same time, a business that’s unwilling or unable to adjust to a shifting landscape will be out of the game.
“I have a plan of action, but the game is a game of adjustments.” - Mike Krzyzewski
Remember it’s a team effort
That superstar we mentioned earlier? They don’t dunk if there’s no one to pass them the ball. The unfocused player? They get better thanks to teammates who are willing to help.
The businesses that score big will be the ones that remember they’re not in it alone. They know victories are the result of real teamwork with their customers and employees. (Funny how often it circles back to the fundamentals, isn’t it?) Even more importantly, they’ll have a network to rely on when the odds are against them.
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson
It all sounds easy, right? We all know actual success isn't, and won't be. Mix a few well-meaning observations with some words of encouragement and you get this article. Just a quick pep talk to get you going. But then, that’s what a good coach does between quarters. So catch your breath, clear your head, and get back out there. Game on!