It’s been a fantastic summer of sport so far. Whatever your sport is (or even if you’re not into sport!), there have already been some epic match ups in GAA, tennis and women’s football to admire.
Athletes tend to have strong motivation and gifted coaches to help them reach their goals. In the world of work, HR professionals, team leaders and management can all draw on a lot of principles from high level sport to achieve equally high levels of productivity in their organisations.
Recruitment and selection
The summer transfer window is open and football clubs are busy trying to lure players to join their teams. Business owners likewise need to ensure they recruit the right people to ensure the long-term success of their company.
Finding the right candidate involves being very clear on the requirements of the role, the type of person needed and developing a fair method of selection to ensure your recruitment process complies with employment equality law.
Learning and development
All good teams have good managers who employ interesting and varied training programmes. Employees who feel they are not reaching their potential may seek to move on. It’s important for managers and team leaders to identify pathways and learning and development opportunities for employees to advance their careers.
Man/woman management
We sometimes hear of trouble in the dressing room. Good managers waste no time in resolving any conflict that might impact the performance of their team. Employers likewise must be proactive in preventing workplace conflict and resolving employee grievances as swiftly as possible.
Performance management
Discipline, timekeeping, hitting your targets. These are all minimum standards that are commonly set in the world of sport. They are also useful performance management principles that could be transferred to the workplace to help team leaders maximise individual and team performance.
Communication
Good teams are built on good communication. Whether it’s on the pitch or on the factory floor, leaders that encourage two-way communication on what is and isn’t working tend to have the best performance outcomes.
Celebrate the wins
Athletes aren’t shy about celebrating their victories. If you’ve set mutually agreed goals with your team and you hit your targets, make sure to celebrate the wins. It’s a great way to boost morale and build a strong team culture.
