Pre-game speeches are great. But often, it’s what happens at halftime, that determines the final outcome.
Perhaps no halftime speeches have been are immortalized than this one:
Well, boys ... I haven't a thing to say. Played a great game...all of you. Great game.
I guess we just can't expect to win ‘em all. I'm going to tell you something I've kept to myself for years - None of you ever knew George Gipp. It was long before your time. But you know what a tradition he is at Notre Dame... And the last thing he said to me - "Rock," he said - "sometime, when the team is up against it - and the breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper... I don't know where I'll be then, Rock", he said - "but I'll know about it - and I'll be happy." Alright.
Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne used the story to rally the underdog Irish to a 12-6 victory against the Army Black Knights. “Win One for the Gipper” has become synonymous with college football lore.
Datamax finds itself at halftime. Back in January “ChALLenge 2021” was introduced, A new normal demands a new way of looking at our customers, and ourselves, in 2021. As with this, or any new challenge, ALL positions matter,” the theme read. One could argue that it’s not fiery speeches, but rather reflection and reevaluation, that makes successful halftime speeches. So, let’s reflect.
The ChALLenge Continues: 4 Questions to Ask Yourself (And Your Department)
1. What did we do right?
The first step in evaluating your company during halftime is to figure out what your team has done right through the first half of the year. Review the list of goals you made for the year and take a moment to see where your company is in completing them.
Whether you have already achieved them or are continually pursuing these resolutions, now’s the time to reflect on all of the ways you and your team have successfully moved toward their completion. Celebrate success and acknowledge your workers’ (or your teammates') hard work.
2. What did we do wrong?
Though it’s never easy to admit fault, realizing where you went wrong is the next step in getting your company on track for success.
Processes evolve. Priorities shift. Remember, this is not a time to point fingers and look for the scapegoat. It’s imperative to be constructive with criticism and remain positive. Sometimes it’s impossible to see if a potential solution to a problem is a mistake until it is put into action.
3. What will we change?
This may be the most important question your team asks moving forward. Just like coaches sometimes change the game plan at halftime, you also have the opportunity to make changes for the rest of the year to help your team achieve the goals you set.
For everything that was mentioned in the “What did we do wrong?” phase of this evaluation, make a new solution that will help get your business back on track. Goal setting is not an exact science; in fact, it’s almost like predicting the future. Since you have no idea how things will work out, it’s important to be flexible.
4. What can I do to improve?
As you move into the second half, get a crystal clear idea of what your scoreboard reads. What are your current sales goals, FTA revenue attainment targets, billing accuracy percentages, or service points metrics? Where will you end up at the completion of 2021, and how do these scores match up to your pre-season predictions?
Take some time today to review your desired score, write it down on a card or in your iPhone, and keep it with you at all times. Post it at your desk, on your bathroom mirror, in your car, etc. Remember, where you focus is what you forge.
