TOUCHDOWN!

Monday Message from Jerry Houston, President and CEO of HPISolutions

This is a bittersweet time of the year for me.  On one side it is the fact that both of my NFL teams are sitting on the sidelines during the remainder of the playoffs, and all I can do is say “Wait until next year.”

On the other side of this coin, it has been great fun to watch the playoffs and revel in the fact that even the great ones (you know, the Packers and the Buccaneers) also have time on their hands for the rest of the season.  Ah, misery loves company.

There are no guarantees of victory in football, or in business.  We just have to keep playing the game to the very last second, never giving up.

During this time of year, it is easy to locate me… in my living room, glued to the TV, anticipating the next great thing that will happen in the current game, and planning when I will go to the kitchen for snacks and readying myself for the next game.  Life is so good; but I digress.

Football is a great analogy to Leadership.  Think about this all-American game.  You are leading a team.  In order for the team to win it needs to work together seamlessly.

The quarterback can’t win without great receivers.  He also can’t win if he doesn’t get good protection in the first place.

Receivers need to run the plays as designed, allowing them to capitalize on what the quarterback is doing.

And remember that many a game has been won by the kicker, launching a ball between the uprights from half a field away.

The leaders of the team are critical to the successful execution of strategy and for inspiring the rest of the team.  The coordinators, head coach, the quarterback, all are charged with the responsibility of keeping the team energized and focused.  If they do not, the opposing team will take advantage and the officials will award penalties all throughout the game.

As you think about how a successful football team operates, take the time to compare effective game execution to how you as the leader execute the strategies of your business and how you are inspiring your team to the ultimate victory…  SUPERBOWL LVI!