Business Lessons From The Athletic Field v.5
The Double Edge Sword of Leading Indicators / Keys to the Game
Another football season is coming to a close and at least one major star athlete is likely to be watching from the press box. You have to be healthy to play. Of course, if you just worry about your health, you probably won’t play very well. You definitely need to keep your eye on the ball and you have to catch before you run. Unless the ball is under thrown, then you better run back to the ball…
The Key To The Game Is…
Time of possession! If we simply optimize our offense to control the ball, we are assured to win the game. Or not… when we end up relying too heavily on the run and fail to take any downfield risks for fear of a turn-over.
Yards after the catch! Good old YAC. We need to draft wide receivers who are also running backs. Our pass plays should emphasize timing patterns where the receivers are in full sprints when the ball is delivered. Or not… when everyone keeps dropping the ball, our TEs keep fumbling while fighting for extra yards, and the defense adapts to a press heavy, timing disruption style of play.
Pressuring the Quarterback! If we develop a core of lightning fast linemen and quality pass rushers, we can… stand slack jawed when we are taken apart by <2 second release times and crazy effective screen plays…
Turnovers! Because watching the ball carrier pick up an extra seven yards on damn near every play while “Slappy The Cornerback” tries to pull the football away is a very satisfying experience for fans and coaches alike!
Redzone Efficiency! We may never get within 30 yards of the end zone, but when we get that one opportunity a game — we are lights out!
Scoring more points… oh wait, that one actually works… Yes, the only true key to the game is scoring more points than your opponent! It is really just that simple and yet, crazy hard all at the same time.
Every Year We Hear…
That some upstart new coach is going to win more games by sub-optimizing. The secret to the game, he tells us, is … enter statistics-based delusion here. They may need a game or two to work it out, but somewhere between week 4 and week 6 of the season — a new football G.O.A.T. has been ordained. Sometimes they actually make the playoffs in year one, but somewhere between week 10 and season 2 — the other teams adapt and our hero is now just a goat… and typically unemployed.
It happens in the halls of business and government, too. Health care is NOT improved just because more people have medical insurance (which isn’t really insurance), but making more people healthy (the real goal) is just too hard. Increasing sales, increasing margins, growing our product offering, and attracting more millennials do NOT make a company more profitable! Decreasing call volume may lead to lower overhead, but could just as easily lead to fewer customers and lower usage.
Of Course, There Is Always The Other Side…
You have to look the ball in to make a catch. It is really hard to win a game when you lose time of possession, the turnover battle, can’t covert on third down, or have poor red zone efficiency. These leading indicators are likely all causal at some level. They are simply not sufficient or even always necessary. This leads to the dangers of sub-optimization.
It happens in business and government as well. More sales is a great sign. Who could dislike increasing margins? And what could possibly go wrong with increasing the number of homeowners — it IS the American Dream after all?
Keep Your Eye On The Ball
Remember — you will always get more of what is measured. Just stop thinking there is any short cut. There are always inefficiencies to be exploited and that is great strategy. But tactics and execution are typically more complicated.
- Identify as many leading indicators as you can — period.
- Track as many as you can — without getting confused or distracted.
- Manage the ones that appear to correlate highest with success — the ones your opponents can’t seem to counter.
- But always be prepared to shift your focus and your strategy — otherwise, you may find yourself watching from the bleachers.
Stay focused but broadly. Distraction and sub-optimization are just the opposite ends of dysfunction. Distraction tends to be more obvious to most people… more fun as well. Thanks for reading! And join our Super Bowl LI — Leading Indicators challenge here.
