Bumble Bee Soccer

Many years ago, our two elementary aged sons participated in a nearby youth soccer league. They had 1-2 practices per week and a game every Saturday morning.

Having grown up playing soccer, I was glad our young children were playing. But when young children play the sport, it really is bumble bee soccer. By this I mean, where ever the ball is all the children run to the ball. It is a swarm of action.

I remember one game in particular. We were playing in a small park with lots of trees surrounding the field. For the parents, it was delightful to finally have some shade.

As the game unfolded, the coaches and many of the parents were shouting for the young players to spread out, maintain their positions and to pass the ball. But the urge to just kick the ball often conquers the need to play as a team.

So on this particular Saturday morning, right in the middle of this game with a swarm of little children racing around after the ball, an antique plane flew over the field. One by one, every little boy and girl stopped playing, looked up, and watched the plane. The ball rolled to a full stop. Once the plane was out of sight, they again swarmed the ball.

 

I don’t remember who won the game. I just remember that during the entire game, the players had two focal points, the ball and for a brief moment a very cool old plane.

Right now, as we move through these busy summer days, it feels like many departments and teams are playing bumble bee soccer. People are chasing after the ball or dropping everything to stare at a plane. They are just working in the moment.

In many companies, no one is playing their position and passing the ball to others. No one is executing the game plan. No one is thinking about the whole season of playing the game. It’s all now, all the time.

I think the solution to this problem is for team leaders, divisional leaders and senior leaders to call a “time out” and refocus everyone on three things. First, we need to clarify the strategic direction and the strategic goals. We must win the game and we must win the season. Next, we must rebuild our teams so they actually play as a team. Each player has a role and a position. Each player has strengths and we must build on them as a team. And finally, we need to remind the team that we must learn from each game we play so over the course of the season we improve how we play. In short, bumble bee soccer creates busy bumble bee execution, and this is never a winning strategy.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257