Now that we are in August, football predictions and prognostications are ramping up. Whether you are a professional, college, or high school football fan, there is plenty of hope and excitement building around your favorite team. Teams are all practicing and getting ready for the season regardless of what others are saying about their upcoming season.
While most fans are primarily focused on how many games their team will win or how far they can go in the playoffs, I look for some different aspects of a program. Professional football is purely transactional in that players and coaches are all paid high salaries to deliver wins. College football is heading in that direction in many places; however, I still think there is a place for transformational as opposed to purely transactional.
Transformational is where coaching staffs support one another rather than compete internally, players are committed to one another as opposed to seeking self-interest, and coaches are committed to a purpose beyond winning games. Transformational programs impact lives, change communities, and establish a foundation for their respective universities to build on.
Transformational programs compete in the same market for players but differentiate themselves in that team culture still means a great deal. While money will always be a factor to a degree, it’s not what defines transformational programs. These programs are defined by their impact, their retention of athletes and coaches, and their consistency over time. Transformational programs have a firm purpose that doesn’t change over time but are willing to adapt to changing times to alter their approach to fulfilling that purpose.
As others are evaluating returning starters, incoming transfers, and what coaches are talking about in pre-season interviews, I will be watching interactions on the side-lines, listening to how coaches talk about their players, and observing coaches and players interact with others. What most would ignore, I find intriguing.
I’m still one that believes team building is not only the right thing to do but is also a competitive advantage. I am as competitive as anyone and like winning too, but am not satisfied with wins without purpose, championships without character, or achievements without impact.
I developed that same approach in business. It was not enough to meet financial objectives. We had to create “difference making” workplaces for people. We had to impact lives beyond just impacting the bottom line! I found that impactful workplaces attracted, retained, and engaged people to deliver sustainable results.
I am holding out hope that others find that approach desirable in both business and in college athletics.
As you watch your favorite team this fall, I’ll be watching for more than what shows on the scoreboard. I may be outdated in my thinking or just “old school” that needs to catch up with the times. Maybe I am just overly optimistic, but I do hope that more will choose transformational over transactional as they look to have impact beyond the scoreboard. One thing we know for sure is that half the teams will win, and half will lose on any given weekend.
