The Gap

Over the weekend a friend told me about a ‘pep’ talk given to her sales team. They were told to ‘pick up the ball and run’. Was that wise?

Well, if you snatch a wayward pass from a fly half, and you have the gas, there is a fair chance that the power and the glory will be yours. So, yes, there is something to be said for the analogy.

But these opportunities are rare – especially in a tight game. If an opportunity does come your way, rather than the chance to sprint the length of the pitch, you’re more likely to be looking into The Gap.

The Gap offers an opportunity to take things forward – the play breaks enough for you to see a chance to make some ground. If you see it, you need to use it because it won’t be there for long. What you gain from it is very much dependant on how well your team mates read what you’re doing and just how quickly they can form the supportive framework around you. How quickly can you turn an opportunist strike into a training ground phase where everybody knows their role?

So, yes, encourage your team to pick up the ball and run – but only if you’re sure you have the management and resources in place to support them. It may well be that they can make ground, but might not be able to cross the line themselves. Fail to support them and you could find yourself defending ferociously very quickly.

Okay, training done for the day. Ice baths all round. Next up I want to go back to the subject of the Business Link seminar I mentioned and talk about social networking and business, and then I have a rant planned on this amorphous thing we call ‘content’.

More soon.