It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
That’s right, football season has once again begun, with its passionate fans and intense game-day atmosphere. Yet football can teach a variety of valuable lessons that extend beyond the sport itself. Football is not just a game played on a field, it extends beyond the field and offers valuable lessons that can be applied to personal and professional undertakings. From camaraderie and resilience to strategic decision-making and perseverance, football offers insights that can be applied to various aspects of life. Particularly, the principles of teamwork, resilience, adaptability, and strategy can help in our professional lives to assist in finding success and building meaningful connections with those around us. But what exactly are the lessons to be gleaned from watching football? I am a huge football fan, both college and professional, and watch multiple games weekly, so I decided to write about this unique analogy between healthcare and football in the hopes of revealing the valuable lessons to be learned. While football is a highly strategic game, it is also a very collaborative sport that demands teamwork, adaptability, and strong leadership.
Teamwork, Adaptability, and Strong Leadership
Sound familiar? These three skills should sound very familiar to those of you who work in healthcare. As we watch our chosen teams weekly, can healthcare learn any lessons from football, not only to improve leadership and teamwork but also to enhance patient outcomes and create a winning culture within healthcare organizations?
Skill 1
The first lesson is teamwork and collaboration. Successful football teams demonstrate the power of teamwork and collaboration. Players work together, utilizing their individual strengths to achieve a collective objective. Similarly, healthcare organizations establish a shared vision and goals to align team members’ efforts. This clarity allows team members to understand their roles, work towards common objectives, and contribute effectively to the organization’s mission. Additionally, healthcare organizations foster a collaborative decision-making process. Involving team members in discussions, seeking input from all relevant parties, and encouraging diverse perspectives contribute to better decision-making and ownership among the team. Football teams work together towards a common goal, and healthcare can benefit from fostering a culture of collaboration among healthcare professionals, encouraging interdisciplinary teamwork to improve patient care outcomes.
Skill 2
The next lesson healthcare can learn is strategy and adaptability. Football games involve strategic play-calling, adjusting on the fly, and adapting to the opponent’s actions. Similarly, healthcare leaders create strategy and strategic plans to define the direction the organization must travel. The strategic plan aids in establishing realistic objectives and goals that are in line with the vision and mission and creates a sense of collaboration and collective responsibility but must also be nimble and flexible. Additionally, healthcare professionals are charged with the development of clear treatment plans and protocols to provide consistent and effective care. Standardizing processes and implementing evidence-based practices which can improve patient outcomes. Having a well-thought-out strategy and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances can set up the organization for success, navigate unexpected challenges effectively, and provide optimal patient outcomes. Football teams adjust their strategies and tactics based on the game situation and opponent. In healthcare, being adaptable and flexible is crucial, as medical science and patient needs continuously evolve. Being open to new approaches and embracing innovation can lead to advancements in healthcare delivery.
Skill 3
Lastly, leadership in football can offer valuable lessons on leadership in healthcare. As Vince Lombardi, famous head coach, once said “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price that all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Some key aspects where healthcare leaders can draw inspiration from football leadership include inspiring a shared vision, effective communication, building and motivating teams, and setting expectations and accountability. Successful football coaches inspire players by instilling a compelling vision and clear goals. Similarly, healthcare leaders can create a shared vision for their organization or department, ensuring everyone understands and is motivated by the overall mission to provide quality patient care. Successful coaches also excel at communicating strategies, and tactics, and providing feedback to players. In healthcare, leaders should prioritize clear and open communication, ensuring that information flows efficiently between team members, departments, and stakeholders. Transparent communication fosters trust, engagement, and collaborative decision-making. Football coaches understand the importance of assembling a well-functioning team. Healthcare leaders can learn from this by recognizing the unique strengths and skills of their team members, assigning them meaningful roles, and fostering an environment of trust, respect, and camaraderie. Motivating the team and celebrating individual and collective achievements can also inspire continued excellence. Lastly, football coaches set clear expectations and hold players accountable for their actions. In healthcare, leaders can define performance expectations, communicate standards of care, and establish a culture of accountability. By setting high standards and holding individuals responsible, leaders promote a patient-centered approach and facilitate continuous improvement.
By considering these lessons to be learned from football, healthcare leaders can inspire their teams, enhance communication, build effective teams, adapt to changing circumstances, and foster accountability. Ultimately, these leadership skills can lead to improved patient outcomes, employee engagement, and organizational success. It’s important to note that while healthcare can learn valuable lessons from football, healthcare, and football- each serves different purposes but aims to achieve success in their respective ways.
