For many of us, football season is in full throttle mode, from little league to fantasy leagues to the professional sector. Many Americans simply cannot get enough of the sport, either by clinging to the television set, traveling to watch their favorite team play, or by coaching.
Many of us understand and appreciate the love of the game and many of us also know there is more to football than just…. football.
Even if you are not a die-hard fan, football in any form can teach a myriad of life lessons, namely in the field of business. Yes, this sport can relate to the business sector in several different ways, many managers and CEOs factor their choice of staffing to their lessons from the game.
Here are six things that football can teach us about business and related employment :
#1. Teamwork
When you have a career in any field that requires you to work for a company or any organization, more than likely you are going to work with others. Even if your job is more of a solo job, many of these jobs are seemingly accomplished “alone” However, they are all accomplished for the good of the company.
Staff meetings, departmentalized projects, tasks, attainment of quotas and customer service are a few areas of many jobs that require
stellar teamwork and interpersonal skills.
The ability to work with others to reach a common goal is essential in a successful work environment and overall moral of the workplace.
#2. Self-Discipline
One of the most challenging life-skills to develop and maintain is self-discipline. Although the term, self-discipline, sounds somewhat negative, this is by far a positive trait. When you possess self-discipline, you have the innate ability to control or hold back you desires, emotions and even feelings so as to improve yourself, or to avoid any negative consequences.
Self-discipline is also responsible for maintaining proper work ethic by staying on schedule each day, remaining focused on the tasks at hand throughout the work day and always remaining thorough at performing your duties, all while behaving in a professional manner.
The inner-strength you possess to control your reactions, to certain situations that arise within the work environment and your actions towards all duties and tasks is highly important and will reveal a great deal about your personality and work ethic.
#3. Loyalty
Just like being loyal to your teammates and the coaches of your favorite team,
loyalty in business creates a stronger bond between you and your employer and is followed through with your solid and consistent work ethic.
The desire to remain loyal to a company, is obviously going to be directly related to your work performance and the company’s ability to effectively garner employee satisfaction. Many companies, will have a greater chance of bringing employees onboard, that have shown steadfastness with previous companies, rather than those which have had high turnover rates with other organizations.
Businesses hire those who they know are willing and who have the upmost potential in sticking around for the long haul.
#4. Continuous Training
It is imperative that you are able to show the willingness to learn more and grow professionally, to review past experiences, acknowledge what you can do differently the next time and to learn from mistakes.
No matter how effective and successful you are at anything you do, namely within the game of football, understanding that there is always room for improvement is vital in any business venture.
Many companies require you to have a specific goal from year-to-year of what you want to achieve as an individual for the good of the company. Many companies also provide on-site training experiences for their employees, to help them achieve their goals within the organization.
Showing the willingness, to continue improving yourself as a member of a team of professionals and achieving your goals through continuous training, will allow you to go a long way in your career.
#5. Preparedness
Playing or being involved in football, no matter the type of team, always requires you to be prepared. Always being “up on your game” is essential, such as with mental toughness, the ability to handle mental pressure and always having proper,
high quality football gear.
The same goes for your career. You must always and consistently be prepared for work, and be ready for the unexpected events at work that require adaptation on your part. Being prepared for the not-so-good-days, as well as the good days is dependent upon your ability to be mentally sharp and focused with a positive attitude.
All of the above life-skills are mandatory for prosperous business opportunities and an efficacious career. These necessary life-skills for success begin earlier in life, by being devoted to a team and gaining exposure, as well as opportunities for developing the skills. All of these character traits and a lot of perseverance can result in a flourishing and thriving career in a job you love.