One of my favorite hobbies is watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament. There is something so exciting about seeing teams challenge themselves to overcome their opponents and win the game. Some games were extremely close throughout, while others were less competitive, especially in the second half. Often you can notice a shift in the success a team is having, which leads to a win. Reporters often talk about the changes in the energy or momentum of a team, identifying what was the game changer!
Each week we go to work, wondering how we are going to tackle the challenges and complex projects. Some days you feel like the energy is there and things are going smoothly. Other days you can feel like no matter how hard you work; progress is eluding you. The question to ask yourself when things are not going well is, how can you be a game changer?
Just like some of the losing teams in the basketball tournament, if you keep doing the same things that have not worked, you will not reach your goal. No matter how efficient you become, repeating a losing strategy won’t work. It also doesn’t work to simply give up when you start losing ground.
Instead, it’s important to consider how you could introduce game changers to turn things around. Game changers can include identifying key issues and developing new strategies, adapting to current trends, looking for new growth opportunities, or evaluating goals for realistic timelines. The difference is whether you place your attention on what’s going wrong, or whether you refocus on solutions and strategies to gain back your momentum.
Finally, sometimes we need to inspire our teams. Displaying confidence, sharing your commitment to driving towards the goal, and letting them know that you believe in them are all ways to renew the team’s energy to push forward. Creating momentum is challenging work, but the rewards are huge as you see a shift in a positive direction.
Let’s be game changers this week and maximize our efforts!
