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Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts

Who Is Quarterbacking Your Team?

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Every team requires a leader who will go the extra mile to do the work when others don't have anymore to give or will motivate those who need the extra push to do more than their self-imposed limits.  This leader is respected more often than liked and attracts others to be their best and contribute what is necessary to make the team successful.  The team leader is much like American football's quarterback.  

 The quarterback is the most important person on the team because he provides leadership, direction, support, resiliency, and ambition that is needed to persevere through obstacles of the game.  The quarterback is the cheerleader who provides the moral support to the other members of the team when they feel as though their mistakes or inabilities to make the plays contributed to a loss.  The quarterback is the person who takes the hit for the team and blames himself if everyone did not perform well.  The quarterback or leader for any team should have these four qualities:

1. Respectful

Respect and admiration of those being led to ensure what is asked is done and expectations are exceeded - inherently forcing others to rise to the occasion to make the team successful by doing more than what is requested by the job title.

2. Altruistic 

Selflessness to take responsibility for the faults and drawbacks of the team with the focus being on how to improve with existing teammates rather than trying to start over with new personnel to make exciting moves to cause corporate buzz.

3. Empathetic 


Empathy as a part of servant leadership to walk in others' shoes to understand their emotions and plights and work to resolve issues rather than close the doors of communication in judgment putting ego aside and others first including the organization.

4. Strong Character 

Unquestionable character that can hold up to any test where the reputation - in-person and online - is solid and there are no indiscretions that would embarrass the team or the organization.

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Analytics in Sports - The Bonus Not the Replacement

After receiving numerous emails and tweets from the sports industry naysayers regarding last month's blog on using analytics in the sports industry, here are the answers to the top 3 questions posed regarding analytics as a bonus not a replacement of any processes in place.

 Question:  How can analytics determine when a player is going to have a stress fracture or tear an ACL?  Athletes can step or land the wrong way at any time in soccer, rugby, basketball and especially football.

 Answer:  It's all about the data. If the player's injury history, the maximum levels the player can perform and his functional movement patterns and limitations are tracked over time, the length of time specific body parts will function at high levels can be forecasted.  Of course, some athletes are freaks of nature and outlast more than others but if the Chicago Bulls had this information upfront about Derrick Rose, they could have adjusted their roster and payouts accordingly.

 Question:  Most sports like the NBA, NFL, MLS and MLB have scouts that travel to watch practices and games all the time to evaluate players and watch film.  Does analytics replace these jobs in the future?

 Answer:  Absolutely not.  You can never replace the skilled eye and intuition for talent, especially from people who have either played the sport on a professional level or have studied the sport and what it takes to be successful on the professional level.  Analytics, however, can be used to determine which types of players (build/physical makeup, speed, reach/span, age) are more likely to be successful based on a team's dynamic and the blending of other players on the team - again based on well-defined history of data tracked.

 Question: NBA teams seem to use analytics for their coaching as well to determine what are the most successful plays given certain scenarios.  Analytics seems to take the art from coaching and makes it a science created by algorithmic nerds.

 Answer:  Always an engineering and systems supporter but never a fan of using analytics to devalue the competition and athleticism during games, it is, however, a good extra piece of information that coaches can use to augment their decisions based on match-ups, team members in foul trouble, PPG of key players at a point of time and opponent history during the same quarter in similar situations.  Mark Cuban and Rick Carlisle are huge supporters of analytics in how it coaches up from the data to give the competitive advantage to increase the team's chances of winning the game.  Keep in mind if every team uses analytics, it turns into which Ivy League analyst and data developer is the smartest - definitely not what any sports fan wants to hear about when it comes to the love of the sport.
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NFL Black Mondays - Insensitive or Smart

NFL Black Monday - Insensitive or Smart
BLACK MONDAY
Black Monday is the day after the last games played during the NFL's Week 17.  

 The season has ended and owners are not pleased to have missed the playoffs and a quest for the Super Bowl.  Depending upon the organizational structure of the team, the coach and/or the General Manager can be fired for missing the mark across numerous areas - losing seasons, poor coaching, inadequate draft picks, and volatile personnel selections.  After all the future of the team depends on great talent acquisition, playing towards the strengths and dimming the weaknesses, and understanding when change is necessary to find the way to win.  More correctly put - the future of the Head Coach and the General Manager rests on the ability to determine the best solutions to develop or maintain a championship-caliber team.
If every CEO truly evaluated his company's staying power based on its performance or lack thereof, there would be more focused and motivated employees dedicated and committed to excellence because being fired is a viable option.  It appears to be okay in the sports industry, especially the NFL.  But in corporate America, would this be insensitive or smart?

 It is smart because it would force every job to be created and supervised with clear measurable goals that could not be sidestepped.  While performance evaluations are an antiquated way to track the development of an employee and work best for organizations that force camaraderie, collaboration and teamwork, clear metrics like the number of products and amounts of services sold, ROI on marketing initiatives, reduced expenditures, customer satisfaction ratings, and number of systems or applications created are well-defined.  It would remove the under-performers quickly so that they don't have the chance to stay on payroll with no function.  It would also remove the shock that government and large Fortune 500 employees experience when there are layoffs that potentially cut into their pension-earning benefits.  

 The insensitivity only comes into play based on how the firing is done.  A text message, voice mail, or conversation immediately before a major publicized event is unprofessional and disgracing.  However, advanced notice is great with a constraint to allow 2 hours to remove belongings in quiet while others are not around with a bonus and payment until the end of the contract or whatever is negotiated for the severance package.  
A person who did not perform to the boss' liking is may be a better fit for another organization.  Rex Ryan will more than likely do well with the Buffalo Bills, Jim Harbaugh will succeed with the University of Michigan after his stint with the 49ers, and John Fox may find his way with the Chicago Bears after missing the Super Bowl run with the Denver Broncos.

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Super Bowl Thrashing Proves Value in the Underdog

COURTESY OF SEAHAWKS.COM ...WHY NOT THEM???
The Super Bowl was not exciting for those who wanted to see a "good game" but extremely thrilling for others who were amazed by the Seattle Seahawks' defense almost shutting out the perceived best-offense in the league.  Since the lights could not be cut out to change the momentum, let's take the win and look at how you can learn from the Seahawks' roster of underdogs who quickly became champions.

 21 out of the 53 players on the active roster were undrafted.  This means they were looked over in combines as not being "worthy" of being selected in the NFL draft.  That is almost half the team.  These players had to work tirelessly and prove their worth to get on a roster.  Nothing came easy for them - moving from other team's practice squads city to city, staying in temporary living conditions, making the league minimum on some weeks and no salary on others, proving they can learn the plays thrown at them, and eventually landing in Seattle with great leadership and teammates.  Persistence, drive, and great work ethic gets you to levels unimaginable as long as you keep believing in yourself.

 Great leadership understood the power of mental stimulation.  If you are motivated and have a burning hunger to succeed, a great leader knows that distractions like poor team morale, surrounding poor work ethic, team in-cohesiveness, and others' lack of self-confidence seriously impact the ability to win a championship or accomplish great results.  The stronger the mind, the more adversity one can handle.  Great leaders know how to help their team members shake off the defeats.  They also know how to move people off the team who have insecurities because they negatively affect the dedication of others.

 Whether you want to start a new career or business or want to flourish with a promotion, the only limits are the ones you place on yourself.  If almost half the Seattle Seahawks could work tirelessly to get to a championship team, so can you.  You do the work and find the right leader that has your best interest at heart. The Seahawks did it - why not you?


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What Professionals Learned from Richard Sherman

RICHARD SHERMAN...THE LESSON...
Last night the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 with an exciting 4th quarter ending when Richard Sherman deflected a Colin Kaepernick pass intended for Michael Crabtree in the end zone, which was intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith with 22 seconds remaining.  The competitiveness and excitement to go to the Big Dance was enormous and so has been the response from America about Richard Sherman's immediate post-game interview with Erin Andrews.  

 While I see nothing wrong with the excitement of a huge triumph and confidence being displayed verbally, there were a couple of lessons that professionals should learn from his interview aftermath.

  1. A response in excitement can lead to lengthy damage control.  In this case, he did a great job and was excited about his hard work and his heroic effort at the end of the game.  In most cases, in the office setting there will be a defeat or moment of anger.  This is when you have to go for Starbucks, go for a walk, call your best friend, go sit in someone's office you trust, or work remotely for the rest of the day.  Do not respond in person or email until all the excitement is gone and poise can be maintained.  It can take a long time for damage control to negate a poor impression.  As we have seen with the Richard Sherman interview, every word has been analyzed and scrutinized when the passion of his career and the win was really all he was expressing.  Now it has turned to multiple interviews with teammates, college teammates and coaches, neighborhood friends everywhere to explain who he is off the field and the great works he does in the communities.
  2. Never let it be about you in the good times.  People respect the players who give the cookie-cutter answers to the press in response to wins and defeats.  The answers like "it was a team effort" for a win and "it was my fault" for a defeat.  The humility will win more allies.  Others will be excited to work with you and for you when you downplay the good work you have done and let others toot your horn.  It shows that you are a team player and not out for personal accolades that undermine others around you.  Clearly Richard Sherman made the game-ending play and gets all the credit for positioning the ball within reach for Malcolm Smith but Smith being there for the interception was a huge factor as well.  Maybe a little more praise for the team could have been provided in the interview but I am pretty sure it is only because the interview happened right after the play.
  3. People react without knowing the facts or history.  This is a very presumptuous society - guilty based on gossip or what is visible to you on television or put in writing in the media.  News flash! There are a lot of other things that go on behind the scenes that you are not aware of nor does the media want you to know.  It's about creating a story for ratings and sometimes that involves not providing all the details.  Case in point, Richard Sherman went to Crabtree to shake his hand immediately after the play but Crabtree's poor sportsmanship showed when he shoved Sherman. He pushed his left hand into Sherman's facemask.  Until the NFL released the audio tape, no one knew it but it was too late because the hypocritical remarks had gone viral.  As professionals we must always take that into consideration before we react to anything because people will jump to conclusions without knowing all the details and run with their own beliefs and spread it like wildfire.
It is always better to learn from others' mistakes than to make your own.  There is a lesson for us all if we pay attention and are open to making adjustments in our lives.  Thanks Richard Sherman for the exciting ending and opening our eyes to the real perceptions of others.
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Contracts in Corporate Settings Beat Roster Cuts


Here Now Gone In an Hour...
One thing we learned from Thursday to Sunday before the Labor Day weekend is that there are a lot of non-guarantees for a spot on the 53-player roster of NFL teams.  This is not really different from corporate contracts which have a clause for immediate dismissal or non-renewal of contingent workers - with one exception.

WARNING.

In corporate settings, professional managers know the employment space in the same industry and line of profession is small.  There are huge chances you may see the person you are letting go or who has let you go again.  Normally a two week to sometimes two months notice, if they really like you, is provided so you can plan both financially and professionally for the next move.


NFL players have it much worse if they are on guaranteed contracts like rookies and especially undrafted ones.  Even league veterans can sign and be released during the preseason and placed on the wire and hope to be cleared on waiver before another team either signs them on their active roster or 8-member practice squad.  Perfect examples of the latter are 9-year veteran Braylon Edwards and former rookie standout Denver Bronco QB Tim Tebow who were recently released from the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, respectively.   No notice - just goodbye.


In the world of average working Americans, this does not happen on a regular basis unless you are in a right-to-work state.  There are no temporary stop gaps like a practice squad that pays $6000/week for the season and post-season.  There are temp agencies but that may not even come close to what you were previously making in a contract or salary. 


Of course, work as hard as you did to get where you are now.  Make sure there are no regrets when you reflect over your assignments and ability to learn the plays. But in the corporate world, make sure your contracts are iron-clad with a clause for notice of termination or non-renewal.  This prevents being on a pendulum swing on what your future will be constantly over a set period of time -  a nervous defensive position for 700 NFL players on last Saturday evening unless they prepared for life after the limelight. 

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Best Read Friday - The Most Valuable NFL Teams

Joe Robbins.Getty Images...
If you thought sports was about athleticism and entertainment, you are right.  But in case you did not understand how each owner can pay the high salary athletes and signing bonuses, here's the article that explains how increased valuation in stadium sales, naming rights, local media, and sponsorship revenue keeps NFL teams beyond afloat and able to bring the best talent to your favorite team.

 Read this article by Mike Ozanian on the most valuable NFL teams.  It may not affect your fantasy football picks but it may give some insight on how well your team is doing financially.
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Preseason is a Professional Sports Temp Agency

THE PATH TO THE ROSTER...
The preseason in professional sports is the time in which the unnecessary roster additions come to light and athletes are waived because of poor conditioning, unpreparedness, lack of performance, increased competition, reevaluation of worth based on the remaining roster, or inability to fit in with the work ethic and style of others on the team.  Not unlike what goes on in work environments that don't involve cheering fans, a stadium or arena, and intense schedules, this is exactly what temporary workers and employees who contract for hire experience.  But here's how to prepare for the end of the evaluation probation period?
  1. Work harder and longer than the rest. Be present before others arrive and after they leave.  Put in more time and effort to be better and deliver stronger.  The results will be evident during the regular workday (on the field or watching film for athletes) while others are competing.  It is a competition and the more you prepare, the better the chances are to compete and win the roster spot.
  2. Talk less and prove more.  Solidifying the spot on the team is the only focus.  Making friends by going to happy hour and nights out on the town are not appointments that need to be scheduled until after a contract is signed and the probationary period is over.  Still be friendly but keep personal and professional business private.
  3. Keep the image intact.  The character shown outside of work or off the field is just as important as the one on the field or in the workplace.  There are no boundaries for upstanding behavior regardless of the environment.  No one wants a risk to the team because there is work to be done, games to be won, and/or deliverables to be completed.  Be sure to think before reacting to any situation and remove or at least eliminate interactions with people that bring drama and conflict.  Be the person that keeps great references.
  4. Move on from the good and the bad performances.  Celebrate the good work and mourn the bad results only for a minute.  Do not get lost in celebration or sulking because it moves the focus away from the next opportunity to shine.  Learn from the poor performance and make the appropriate adjustments.  Remember the good outcome and practice to repeat whatever it took for the positive outcome.
A once in a lifetime opportunity can not be underestimated.  It is a process that the million dollar athlete and the hourly worker go through to solidify a job.  While one might be more glamorous than the other, it's always business and nothing personal.  And what is exhibited working with one company or team that did not work can easily translate to success in another company or for another team. 

 For more business and professional career information, follow on Twitter (@temekoruns) or purchase the book, Get A  Clue 10 Steps to an Executive IQ.



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From Combine to the 1st Day of Camp

Courtesy of sportsillustrated.cnn.com  
Professional athletes have all had the dream to make it to the big league.  Once they are drafted or have had successful combine results and are lucky to be signed, dreams have morphed into reality.  But just like people employed in careers that are not necessarily dream jobs, there is a time frame each person must endure initially that will either stimulate and motivate the desire to excel or filter out the weak links that just do not have what it takes.


In corporate America, it is the three month probationary period for employees and contractors.  For professional sports, it is training camp for the athlete.

 Here are four tips to help make the transition from unsure to gainfully employed:
1) Remain humble. Management and coaches already know who will most likely remain on the team before camp begins. This time is mostly for the ones who have exhibited talent, competitiveness, and toughness but the determination is left as to whether they are a good fit.  Good fit is not only about how well they will replace others but also character, reputation, and the ability to get along well with others including leadership.  This is the time to remove associates that exhibit poor judgment and keep people around that are discerning about what it takes to keep your humility and ability to focus in check.
2)  Be prepared and stay alert.  Whether it is working out endlessly to be in the best condition before training camp or researching work assignments that apply to what your task will be, stay the course with self-discipline.  Turn preparation, like watching film, into habit by focusing at least twice a day.  Now this also means getting the appropriate amount of rest and turning down the solicitations to hang out on the weeknights at the local bar or club so that you can remain alert during your "day job".
3)  Befriend no one. The people that are trying to be the friendliest are normally the ones that are the most divisive or competitive.  They either want to know what you know or stop you from where you are trying to go.  This is not the time to build a family dynamic in this trial period.  After the team is set and you are grounded in checks, determine who you want to have in your space and filter accordingly.
4)  Stay drama free externally.  There will always be significant others and spouses and those who seem to continue to hang on.  Be sure these individuals do not bring added stresses of neediness but provide the level of support necessary for you to remain focused on the ultimate result of getting past this period.

After all no career is really promised a lifetime but there must be the right focus to make it off the starting line for the first few months.  Treat this time like a combine and use these tips and work hard to stay off the unemployment line.

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The Economy of Capitalizing on Athletes' Mistakes

THE GIVEBACK...UNNECESSARY ATHLETE COSTS    
Emotions run heavy during sports as it should.  Old habits are also hard to break especially when coming into new money with familiar friends. However professional athletes and coaches alike must remember that behavior deemed unacceptable by their respective employer - the league - can be costly.  It may be as drastic as losing endorsements.  This is just an unnecessary revenue generator for all parties but the professional athlete.

Check out this video to learn how the 'giveback' based on mistakes works towards the business goals of everyone but the professional athlete. 
http://youtu.be/QfU_jy9D95k

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Post NFL Draft: Started From the Bottom, Now You're Here

THE NFL DRAFT.     
Last weekend the NFL Draft has given monetary promises and endorsement hopes to many players from the college ranks.  For many of these young athletes, this is the most money any of them have ever seen.  In fact, it is probably more than family generations have earned. This post is for the new professional athlete who was either drafted or undrafted over the past weekend - the one who will now see their dreams come to fruition in the top professional league in football.  From the bottom as a scrambling college athlete, you have arrived but there is business you must take care of to stay here.
1). The Hangers Ons. There are friends and family from little league to college who believe they should benefit and reap the rewards.  New level, new devil.  I am not saying get all new friends or replace family but definitely evaluate those who could be risks to your success both on and off the field.  Illegal gun carrying, non-medicinal marijuana-using, womanizing associates should definitely be eliminated before training camp starts. Well if you have no one to hang out with after this elimination, it is a great time for self-reflection and intense strength and speed training.
2). The Percentage Takers. Between the agent,the business manager, the publicist, and the investment brokers, the percentages will add up. Some of these individuals will claim to protect your interest and make investments on your behalf that may or may not be beneficial. Protect your assets and invest properly with a reputable financial planner. Hire lawyers that don't know these people to watch what they are doing. 
3). Toys of Joy.  I would never tell you to not ride in style nor live in custom-built homes in plush neighborhoods.  If you are making the league minimum, obtaining a Bugatti is not the best choice. Make sure your spending and monthly expenses do not exceed 30-35 percent of guaranteed salary. In other words, don't spend beyond your wage. If you get endorsements, bank that for hard times or retirement because one career-ending injury is all it takes and you will wish that money was available.
4). Lover Hover.  My office landlord told me once "If you have the money, you'll attract like honey".  Well I will not say what you will attract but definitely protect your ass-ets. Set a new example for athletes - husband first and then fatherhood. Baby momma drama is REAL, especially if they still want you and can't have you. Ask your elder pro-athlete brethren about that.  Lovers will hover and you will have plenty of choices.  Discernment! 

I can go through all the adages - more money, more problems...to whom much is given, much is required.  But none matter most than using commonsense.  While I want you to stay in the league at least 10 years but realistically speaking, that won't happen for everyone.  So prepare to succeed and get your business in order for longevity.  After all, it's harder to return to the bottom and get back here. 


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The Business of the NFL Draft - The Article

NFL DRAFT...A BOARD OF BUSINESS    
The fans are excited about the picks from the NFL draft to determine just how far off their favorite team will be from a Superbowl quest.  The owners are focused on not only who will bring them to the Big Dance but whether or not they get their money's worth with fan attraction, superstar recognition, and team member acceptance.  Fashion designers are eager for the drafted players to show off their new outfits.  The media has a field day of coverage especially on the stories of football lineage of some draftees and major sympathy stories to keep viewers glued to the reports.

The NFL Draft is a business.  Here is an article (http://yhoo.it/13Xoezx) that outlines just how much of a business it is and who benefits.
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