4 steps to successful game planning

“Productivity is never an accident.” — Paul J. Meyer

In 25+ years of working with top athletes and executives, I’ve yet to come across a wise leader who doesn’t equip his team with a specific plan for success. To be sure, if you fail to prepare, then you are preparing to fail.

When newly appointed Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula was asked by the media to reveal his 3- to 5- year team goals, Shula responded, “I don’t have a 3- to 5-year game plan; my game plan is day-to-day.” Shula realized and embraced the fact that every football franchise shared the same fundamental goals. It was daily implementation that counts.

While sports managers and athletes need to have certain elements in place to succeed, the same holds true for corporations, business leaders, and top sales achievers.

Here are four steps to creating a successful plan that will take your team’s performance to higher and higher levels … today, and 10 years from now:

1. Develop your plan 

Establish the priorities that flow from your mission. Identify your core responsibilities as well as those that must be successfully delegated. And structure your calendar in such a way to support daily execution and high productivity.

2. Recruit your players 

Astute leaders value character as well as ability. This is not an either/or proposition. You need both to create superior results.