LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS IN A FOOTBALL HUDDLE

BEING A FAN OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL I HAVE BEEN WATCHING IT SINCE CHILDHOOD. DURING OTHER SPORTS, TEAMS EITHER HAVE A STRATEGIC TIME OUT ONCE OR TWICE LASTING FOR MINUTES DURING THE GAME BUT FOOTBALL IS THE ONLY GAME WHERE THE TEAM HUDDLES TOGETHER AFTER EVERY FORTY SECONDS DECIDING A GAME PLAN FOR THAT PLAY.HERE IN THE HUDDLES THEY DONT HAVE TIME FOR DEEP CONVERSATIONS OR ELABORATE EXPLAINATION THEY JUST LOOK IN EYES OF THEIR LEADER WHO CONVEYS THE MESSAGE RECIEVED FROM THE SIDELINES. HOWEVER, THE CONCEPT OF HUDDLE AND ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP IS BEING ADOPTED BY MANY BUSINESSES TODAY. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP LESSONS DERIVED FROM THE SAID CONCEPT FOR ANY BUSINESS.

1) BUILDING UP TEAMWORK: GREAT LEADERS NEED TEAM-BUILDING SKILLS AND AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN ORDER TO BE EXAMPLES AND EFFECTIVE TO THOSE THEY LEAD. IN THE GAME, WHEN YOU ARE IN A HUDDLE, IT IS INDICATIVE YOU ARE A PART OF THE TEAM, WHICH PROVIDES EYE-TO-EYE CONTACT THAT IS DIRECT AND PERSONAL. DEFINITELY A POWERFUL WAY TO UNITE THE TEAM MEMBERS.

THUS, IN A COMPANY, HUDDLES CAN BE A WAY EFFECTIVE ENOUGH TO GET TO KNOW THEIR TEAM MEMBERS BETTER. THROUGH WHICH THE TEAM WILL CONSIDER THEMSELVES BEING A PART OF A SUPPORTIVE TEAM AND BEING LED BY A LEADER WHO SHOWS CONCERN TOWARDS THEM.

2)IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION PLAN: DECISION WITH REGARDS TO TAKING AN ACTION COMES BY WAY OF HUDDLE. THUS, IF NOT IMPLEMENTED THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HUDDLE IS LOST. HUDDLES HELPS IN IDENTIFICATION OF THE ACTION AND ITS DELEGATION, WHICH GIVES A CLARITY TO THE TEAM MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR NEXT MOVE WHICH IN CASE OF A COMPANY HELPS THEM TO KNOW THEIR ROLE AND THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO WIN.

3) RENDERING AND SEEKING HELP: HUDDLES ALSO EXPLAIN THE RELEVANCE OF WORKING IN AN EXECUTIVE TEAM RATHER THAN WORKING IN ISOLATION. JUST LIKE CALLING AN AUDIBLE IN A FOOTBALL GAME, WHICH ALLOWS THE TEAM MEMBERS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT IN THE GAME PLAN WHICH MAY BE DECIDED AT THE LAST MOMENT. THIS CONCEPT IS OBSERVED IN A COMPANY TOO, WHEREIN THERE MAY BE A FIXED PLAN, BUT SOMEONE COMES IN WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE OR A DIFFERENT OPINION WHICH WHEN FOUND TO BE WORTHWHILE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED, DISCARDING THE PREVIOUS ONE.

4) PROMPT DECISION-MAKING SKILLS: JUST AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER TYPICALLY HAS ONLY A FEW SECONDS IN A HUDDLE TO DECIDE WHERE TO PASS, IT EXHIBITS HIS PROMPT DECISION MAKING SKILLS. A PLAYER MAKES DECISIONS BY OBSERVING AND INTERPRETING THE SITUATION QUICKLY. THUS, IN A BUSINESS TOO, PROMPT DECISION MAKING SKILLS NEEDS TO BE ENHANCED.

5) STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT: HUDDLES GIVES A CHANCE TO COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN, STRATEGIES AND ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP APPROACHES TO WIN. IT HELPS THEM TO IDENTIFY ISSUES THAT REQUIRE FURTHER ATTENTION AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ACCORDINGLY. THE LEADER NOT ONLY FOCUSES ON TO DEFEND THE POLICY BUT PLANS TO CHANNEL OUT THE CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS OF OTHERS SO AS TO MAKE NECESSARY DECISIONS.