Sports as Metaphor? Depends on the Coach

CHICAGO (MainStreet) -- As football playoff fever continues this weekend, most eyes will be on the players. But it's those headset-wearing guys on the sidelines who are just as much the key to a win. A good coach brings together a group of disparate athletes and molds them into a cohesive, focused team.

It's no surprise, then, that sports-loving business leaders often look at pro coaches as role models. But the "winning in sports is just like winning in life" storyline doesn't always hold up. NFL players have some pretty enticing reasons to give their all on the field. The "teams" who work in suburban office parks and small manufacturing firms don't get the multimillion-dollar salaries, public adulation or chance at a Super Bowl ring. So how can you expect them to turn in superstar performances?

The "teams" in suburban office parks and small manufacturing firms don't get multimillion-dollar salaries, public adulation or chances at a Super Bowl ring -- but are still expected to turn in superstar performances.

The simple answer is, you can't. But certain qualities of good coaching apply to good leadership in any industry. The key is to not to get caught up solely in numbers, whether it's game wins or sales targets. It's about giving your team the right attitude to achieve those wins themselves.

"The best coaches are the best communicators," says Maine-based consultant and speaker John Brubaker, who often applies the lessons he learned coaching a Top 10 college lacrosse team to his business clients. "They realize there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. They figure out what motivates each player: some might want to be pushed hard, others need a more gentle approach."

Too often, business owners and managers wait for employees to complain before asking what they need. Instead, they should be reaching out. "Great coaches have the ability to check in at the beginning of practice and find out what's going on with each player," Brubaker says. He recommends that small businesses start each workday with the office version of a huddle, a time when the boss can assess each employee's mood and goals. Those who need some extra TLC can get one-on-one follow-up sessions.