ARTICLE | July 09, 2024
Laughably, we often joke about sports reporters who make the obvious quip: “To win the game, they must outscore their opponent”. Novel concept, yet it seems so many coaches are playing a different game. In one of the most remarkable football fables of old, a team was down 5 points with 2 minutes left and kicked a field goal…the other team got the ball, kneeled it 4 times and the game was over…the fans were confused and seemingly the coach too.
The ties between sports and business often fall short in one crucial aspect. At the end of the game, there is a score on the board, and the teams know who won and who lost. In baseball, football, or golf, success is clearly defined . This is what makes sports so consumable to a broad audience, much like the stock market for larger companies . Most businesses often do not have that same privilege. If success is not accurately defined, owners will not know if they are winning or losing. For instance, if a team defines success as more punts kicked than the other team (See Iowa College Football in 2023), the kicker might achieve a personal record, but without points the team will never win the game.
The point is this, football coaches that kick the field goal when a touchdown is needed or track how many punts they have are not measuring what matters. John H. Jones states, “What gets measured gets done; what gets rewarded gets done again and again.” KHA Strategic Consultants help business owners define the rules of the game, build their scoreboard, and coach their players to that end. Call KHA Strategic Consultants today and discover the measurables that drive your team’s success.