Should Workplace Managers Call Plays Like NFL Coaches?
The NFL playoffs are in full swing as a handful of teams battle it out for the title of Super Bowl champion….Not the Browns though, but that’s for a different set of opinions). Many of the games this year have been nail-biters and down to the wire. In the most frantic moments, the cameras zoom in on the coach, who often has his head down scanning his laminated play sheet trying to find the right play for the right time. Note: That laminated thing looks like a menu printed on a placemat at a diner with way too many food options.
The Laminated Play Sheet
Weeks and months of preparation have allowed these coaches to select the best plays to fit their overall game plan/strategy for each matchup. But, with only 30 seconds to make a decision (barring a time out or two), the coach has to make a choice to address the situation at hand. Of course, coaches don’t make the perfect call every single time, but I would imagine even the most experienced and brilliant football coaches would struggle to recall all of the options available without a play sheet in game situations.
Workplace Managers Need Their Own Set of Go-To Plays
Watching these coaches sparked a question: “What if managers in workplaces had their own play sheet of tactics to draw on for various leadership scenarios?”
I’m not suggesting that office managers literally walk around with a laminated document with a list of tactics. But, what if these leaders were prepared with tactics and strategies for specific situations they face with their teams just like those NFL coaches?
Common Problems Managers Face
Almost all of the managers and directors we are working with are overwhelmed. They’re balancing getting the work done, putting out fires, maintaining a positive work culture, addressing tensions that arise in hybrid work, developing talent, and creating inclusive practices. Many of the head-scratching problems and puzzles center around teamwork and how people relate to one another. They include things like:
How to reduce tension among teammates
How to strike the right balance between in-person and remote work
How to help people feel connected to each other again
How to reduce inefficiency caused by outdated workflows
How to rebuild alignment toward a shared vision
Equipping Managers
Our coaching and teaching work has become more focused on equipping managers with tactics that they can use in situations like these. The football analogy would call these, “plays.” They include simple steps, actions, conversations, and tools. Broader skills and knowledge like empathy, agile planning, change readiness, communication, etc. are very important for leaders, but they often take some dedicated time for learning, practice application, and feedback.
Managers as Play-callers
Do managers need hundreds of options for dozens of scenarios with names like “Wing T 69 Bootleg Right?”. Uh, no. And again, I don’t envision a manager wearing an arm sleeve in meetings with a list of tactics on them like Joe Burrow. But, having a set of structured tactics that can be called upon when certain conditions emerge can move things along much more productively.
Go-To Tactics
Some of our go-to tactics that can be used in a number of situations include:
Experiments: When people feel stuck, when starting something new, or when there is tension or conflict.
Agreements: When expectations need to be set or reset, when tension or conflict needs to be resolved, or when conversations about accountability are needed.
Micro Connections: When teams feel like they are losing personal connection, when new people are onboarded, or when meetings need new energy.
Story Building: When a team is refreshing its mission/vision, when launching into planning work, or when creating alignment
Agile Canvas: When planning any new effort, when creating inclusion in decision-making, or when agile approaches are needed to maintain momentum
Real Work Example
Sometimes having a real-life example from our current work helps. A manager and her team all agreed that they did not have time to do their work during work hours due to the volume of meetings. Tension and burnout were rising, and the leader didn’t know what surefire solution would fix the situation. After learning about the experiments tactic, she and her team brainstormed some ideas to test out. Using a set of steps, the team agreed to try out a “no meetings Friday” approach for 2 months and see how it worked. A large-scale policy decision wasn’t required, and the team was able to move into action quickly alleviating some of the tension of maintaining the status quo. Everyone participated because they helped contribute to the idea, and agreed to test it out. Now, she has the tactic of “Experiments” in her back pocket for future use.
So, having some simple structures that can address multiple conditions at the ready is a powerful way for managers and directors to get unstuck and score some wins! There will always be a need to build skills and competencies. But, managers also need their own play sheet with some proven tactics.
Would You Like to Test a Manager Playbook?
At Thrive at Work, we’re pulling together our favorite tactics into a “playbook” that we can share with other leaders. If you’d like to be one of our early adopters/testers, please sign up here, and we’ll connect with you.
Looking to Connect?
If you’re looking for more help in any of these areas, send us an email or book a time to chat further. We love problem-solving with you!
