If you’ve been following me for any time, you know that I like to take lessons from the sports world. My premise is that business is a competitive sport.
Here’s an good example from the pros
This week I’d like to take a page out of the Playbook from Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots. Bill has won more Super Bowls than any football coach. Yet, there’s something he does every year that seems counterintuitive.
Every year during training camp, he has a couple of events built-in where the players all get together and do something fun, like bowling or movie night. Bill says that it’s one of the most important activities of the year. He goes on to explain that when the players can get together and learn how to laugh and have fun together, it really deepens their relationships. It is invaluable in helping them learn how to appreciate each other and work together as a team.
In business, so often we can focus on the blocking and tackling technique of performing in the business. All of that is very important.
But what Bill and I know is that if we don’t have some appreciation for one another and can’t have some fun, we’re not going to reach our potential.
Did you know that August is National Family Fun month?
Take a look and see what you can do as a family to build this important ritual into your annual routine. For many of the families I work with, we design and execute a family retreat during the summer months. It could be a game night or other activities throughout the month where everybody gets together and just has some fun.
Many times, families tell me that they’ve got too much conflict and baggage to “fake” trying to have fun with each other. This is where it is counterintuitive. Remember another familiar saying, “Fake it till you make it.”
As a family leader, you need to schedule that activity and have your team participate. What I’ve seen firsthand in so many families, is the first event or two may be a little bit awkward and clunky. As more of those events happen, the family learns how to play together. They then begin to reap the rewards of the old adage, “A family that plays together stays together.”
Right now think how you are going to pull your team together to have some fun. Be courageous, be bold! Send out a note to everyone and tell them to, “Be there or be square.”
Model lightness along the way
Send me a note if you would like some ideas or send me a note and tell me what you are going to do. Then send me a note afterwards and tell me what you noticed, what went well and what could be improved upon.
This is a vitally important ingredient to your overall success. Have some fun in the process!
Play to your potential!
Coach Pete
Pete Walsh offers family business consulting services, workshops, tools and resources as the founder of the Family Business Performance Center. Subscribe to his newsletter or get in touch to get actionable insights to help your family business grow for generations to come.
