By: Walter Bond
As we launch into the new year, Bowl games, NFL playoffs, the NBA, NCAA, and NHL seasons are all in full swing. As a former basketball player in the NBA, watching football is still my favorite. Regardless of the sport, though, these events all have something in common: impact players. We can’t talk about teamwork without understanding the role of impact players on the team.
Impact players bring us to the sport in the first place and are what keep us coming back. We are watching to see which NBA player is going to dive across the floor for a loose ball, make the key score, or block a shot at the perfect time. We don’t want to miss the moment when a college player leaps over ten people to force himself into the end zone. We are exhilarated when Tom Brady gets up after being knocked down for the tenth time to throw the ball into the end zone and have it caught, leading his team to another Super Bowl.
At work, we can make an impact too. As a fleet professional, you must be or become an impact player for your team. Our companies need us to be a little more creative, a little more take-charge, to negotiate better, to be more resourceful. Your motto needs to be, “I will do it!”
Here are 5 ways you can have more impact:
1. Be committed. When you are committed to your family or organization, going the extra mile is non-negotiable. Ask what extra step you can take to really make a difference. Commitment leaves no room for complaining. Be the first to put out fires and the one best and equally prepared for the inevitable and the unthinkable.
2. Buy in. Don’t just be there drinking the Kool-Aid. Be a cheerleader for the team. That’s what leaders want and need. Buy into the system and the methodologies that have been put in place. When the team wins, we all win. Maybe it’s up to you to build and create culture. Like Nike says, JUST DO IT.
3. Work on perfecting your skill. We are all good at something. Work this week to get better at it. Take your game to the next level for the good of the team. Your company is basically leasing your skillset so your job is to sharpen your saw and perfect your craft. Athletes go to practice every day, trying to get better. Be sure you are doing the same.
4. Fill in gaps. It’s easy to notice what needs to be done. This week, be the person who gets it done. Choose yes. Say, “I can do that.” Or, help your teammate look good. An impact player makes his or her teammates better. Being a great teammate is a huge part of being an impact player. When you show up, good things happen. Are the right products getting to the right people?
5. Be consistent. It’s so important to show up every day and produce. Who likes being around inconsistent and flaky people? Your team needs you to show up every day in every way with impact. An impact player doesn’t believe in days off. Does everyone driving your car, for instance, have the latest in driver safety? Do you need to re-negotiate a deal? Are you working with the best suppliers or just the ones you like the most?
Your impact may begin with small things that start out unnoticed. Over time, you will increase your value and your impact will be recognized. We all like to cheer for winners. Let our cheering begin with us impacting the win ourselves.
Here’s to a team with more impact players. Make that first impact player YOU. Think about a player like LeBron James. He is on a team, he has teammates, but he is undoubtedly an impact player. He has led his team to three NBA Championships. He has been named an NBA All-Star 13 times and MVP four times. That, my friend, is not just an NBA player. That is what we call an impact player, one of the best to ever play the game. He is a consummate athlete whose excellence shines within the context of the team. He plays with passion and purpose and will do whatever it takes to win.
You can do the same. Give whatever team you are playing on the chance to win it all. When you show up, great things happen.
About the author:
Walter is a Hall of Fame Business Speaker who focuses on Peak Performance and Creating Championship Teams. A former Big Ten and NBA Basketball Player, Walter has executed the daily habits and skills needed to win in the game of business. In addition to having success in sports, Walter has led a number of business organizations. He shares lessons learned from being a Franchisee and leading a growing training and development business that experiences year-to-year growth of over 10%. He has keynoted conferences in numerous countries for some great brands such as 3M, Domino’s, Accenture, Boston Scientific, Hilton, The Dwyer Group, UPS, State Farm Insurance, Mosaic, Honeywell, and Allianz, and I know you guys are going to love him too.
Here’s a link where you can watch his demo video: https://vimeo.com/148563277
For more information: www.walterbond.com
