Starting Quickly - The Holy Grail of Performance.....

Anyone out there have a secret for getting a team to start quickly?  In the workplace?  On a baseball field?  Anyone?  Bueller?...

I've got two sons.  I coach their baseball teams.  My oldest is 7 now, and I've learned that's the time that youth baseball leagues start getting competitive (I know, 7!...).  My 7 year old's team had a good start to their season, winning their first two games.  Then we came out late last week, and..... STARTED SLOW....

It was 8-1 before they knew the game had started....

You've seen it before with important projects, with individual employees in your workplace, and of course, in every team sport.  The goal is to win (or to perform at a high level), and everybody gets that.  You've laid out the goals, practiced the skills you need, and talked about the importance of starting quickly.

Then the lights go on, and your team/employees have zero momentum.  They are behind from the start, which history tells us dramatically reduces the chances of winning, however defined. 

The first inning of the game, the first 3 months of your job, doesn't matter.  Start slow, and you are in trouble...

Let me know if you have a surefire way to ensure fast starts - on the baseball field or in the workplace.  Shock therapy and going Bob Knight proponents need not apply....

Comments

[marenhogan]

why Kris rules at team building, project starting marketing re: Duct Tape

http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2008/04/07/multi-author-blogging-as-a-referral-tool/

[Jim Libs]

You don't have to start fast. Sure it helps and who wouldn't want to have a commanding lead after the first two innings. But winning is about consistent performance and instilling confidence. As for the hitting, it's about not losing concentration. I've been on both sides of the fence........had leads and won, had leads and lost. Been behind and lost, been behind and won. Teach skills and instill confidence, the victories will take care of themselves.

[Kris Dunn]

Jim -

"I've been on both sides of the fence........had leads and won, had leads and lost."

I agree. The problem is that when you start slow in anything, the probability of winning goes down dramatically. That's the bottom line... Dramatic comebacks/finishes will only save you 10 percent of the time...

KD

[Mary]

Whether it's baseball or the boardroom, 2 factors will help sustain performance, and involvement is critical. Ask 2 questions of your team: Question #1: "What did we do right today/this week?" This reinforces the behaviors that will move you toward your goal and recognition is a great motivator. Question #2: "What do we need to do better or differently to improve for next week?" By asking instead of telling, you are developing your players and employees to be critical thinkers and when they offer the idea or solution, they buy in more than if it were given to them. Based on this team discussion, you've already identified what needs to happen over the next few days or week to achieve results. As you keep your focus on these things in practice or in employee actions, performance will improve, and these things become elements to recognize at the next team meeting.