Career Lessons from Soccer

As much as we talk about collaboration in the workplace, the fact is that whether we like it or not, the workplace is an intensely competitive place.  Think not?  Sit in on a management team discussion while they discuss who to lay off as part of cost cutting measures. I've sat in on plenty of those discussions, and the employees who are thinking and acting like competitors usually fare better.  

Long-time readers will remember that I have written before about career lessons that can be gleaned on the soccer pitch.  It's that time of year again as the new season gets underway... 

Soccer is a fiercely competitive sport where success relies on an interesting mix of team work and individual contribution and therefore makes for some interesting workplace analogies.  Last weekend I watched my daughter's soccer team suffer an agonizing defeat as a 3-0 routing turned into a 5-0 utter humiliation when the defense collapsed and performed not one, but two "own goals."  To say the girls were discouraged doesn't begin to describe the situation. 

As DH and I were talking about it later that evening, he made the interesting observation that some people "own goal" in their careers.  They may be losing the competition based on being in the wrong job for their particular skills, or not having a supportive boss; but they seal their fate by "own goal" behaviors such as:

• Arriving late and leaving early
• Wearing headphones and humming/singing along in a close-cube environment
• Talking badly/gossiping about their boss and/or co-workers
• Not returning e-mails and voice mails within 1 business day
• Surfing the Internet at work
• Pointing out problems without suggesting solutions
• Telling off-color jokes
• Routinely missing the mark on business casual (very important as summer approaches)

Obviously, I could go on and on. The point is, these are all behaviors that are in complete control of each individual employee.  You may not have much influence if you are an entry level employee and your boss incorrectly identifies business goals and metrics, and you get caught up in a departmental disaster.  But you are on your own if you wear low cut tank tops to work, or bad mouth your peers. 

My daughter's team was going to lose the game - that became obvious within 15 minutes as the opponents demonstrated that they were better prepared, more skilled, and more aggressive.  Losing the game wasn't what discouraged them.  It was the "own goals" that damaged their morale.  Believe me, they will be working hard this week to figure out what happened and make sure they don't make those errors again.

How about you?  Are you recovering from a layoff?  Did you get out-maneuvered and lose your job?  Don't feel badly - it happens to everyone.  But if there were any "own goals" that contributed to your demise make sure you figure out what you could have done better or differently so it doesn't happen again. 

How do you find out if you are committing some "own goals"?  Find a qualified mentor or coach who is familiar with your work and can give you an objective, fair perspective (note - NOT your spouse or a friend - it must be someone successful at your work place that you can trust to be  brutally honest with you).  In an ideal world, we would all be checking out our capacity to "own goal" long before we get caught up in a job loss and modifying our behaviors accordingly...but at work, like in sports, it's never too late to learn.

 

  

Comments

[Results pundit]

Well Post and nice Blog.For More u can visit at

Careers India

[joemary]

I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I would love to be back in your blogs.

joemary@Job Salary

[Louanne]

I agree ... I especially hated it when people would criticize without offering any solutions ... great post!

http://www.cornwalljobs.org

[invertir forex]

Hi
Thanks for all information I'm very interesting in your blog please send any update

[erotik shop]

I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I would love to be back in your blog

[lalaru]

wow i like the way you write things thanks a lot !

[Derek Rosenstrauch]

There is alot of pessimistic views out there having to do with career change and job hunting. I personally believe that an individual needs to keep their interviewing skills high when an opportunity presents itself. I found some good information on interview questions that really takes the edge off when your time has come.
http://fe4787ykucz82teatekl9bfi0s.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=PPDLZZ9T

[شات]

nicee @

شات http://www.ksavip.com/
شات سعودي http://www.ksavip.com/
دردشه http://www.ksavip.com/
دردشه سعوديه http://www.ksavip.com/
شات السعوديه bag http://www.ksavip.com/
سعودي http://www.ksavip.com/
شات سعودي http://www.ksavip.com/

[John Papers]

Thanks for this information..
John..

[Vibram Five Fingers]

Very good article. I am not so much into macro or close-up photography but knowledge someone can never have enough.

[pandora uk]

I am not so much into macro or close-up photography but knowledge someone can never have enough.

[Placements]

You can learn lessons from so many things eh?!

[burberry outlet]

I'm book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!

[Account Deleted]

thanks for sharing such informative and fantastic post..thanks for sharing such informative and fantastic post..
http://www.pandorabracelets.uk.net/

[Moncler online shop]

thank you for sharing with us, i really like the way you show to us, nice work , keeping it up

[Joe Namath Jersey]

http://www.steelersshoponline.com/aaron-smith-jersey

[moncler jackets]

Many people know moncler jacketshow a down filled comforter can provide warmth on a cold wintry day, but you can also get that same warmth in wearing down outerwear.moncler jackets Coats and jackets filled with goose down feathers as insulation are available in many different types of styles and colors.moncler jackets If you live or work in a climate where the temperatures can get below the freezing mark a down jacket may be what you need.

[beats studio]

Wise man have their mouths in their hearts, fools have their hearts in their mouths.

[Christian Louboutin Outlet]

First, it attracted me the most is its practicality and its convenience. Second, it's personalized design fascinated me. Finally, I must mention is its economy. I believe it will have a very good development prospects.