#JTInTheRaw 52: What The F#@k Is The Score In Your Business
I want you to imagine playing a game with nothing to aim for – soccer with no goals; rugby with no try line; netball with no rings; softball with no bases. What’s the point of the game?
Now I want you to imagine playing that same game with those goals, rings, lines and bases but no scoreboard! What’s the point of the game?
Who the f#@k would play a game with no goals and no scoreboard? So why do so many businesses have no way – zip, non, zero – ways to determine at the end of the day, week or month whether they are winning or losing?
Why? Because they are just too damn lazy when there is money in the bank! When our bank account is in the black we are often not concerned how we got it in the black, because we are happy.
Great leaders and teams, know what actions got that money in the bank!
Welcome to show 52 of JTInTheRaw where I chew the thin on business and yes you heard right . . . this is show 52!
A whole year has passed since I launched this show.
It was in fact a very sunny Friday morning on the Gold Coast and just 2 days before I ran my first marathon! A double celebration weekend.
The show started off with me taking a leap of faith that people may watch as I talk about business and life. Quickly I realized I knew diddly squat about life and I should stick with what I know – business! And that’s what I’ve done just chewed the thin on business!
My highest ranking shows seems to be shows where I have a rant. And the show that springs to mind is when I didn’t just rant, I went on a tirade, about personal trainers selling their clients into pyramid schemes. It was show 42! If you missed the show pop 42 in the comments and you can listen to my rant plus hear the tell tale signs that a staff members is going to leave you! 42 in the comments and I’ll send you a link.
I have done shows at IHRSA, Filex, in hotel rooms, on the side of the road, in gyms, in Times Square New York and even in a closed café in Manchester.
And to be honest I love what I do. I love looking at the show view numbers and the “likes” and “hearts” or any other emoticon I get after a show.
In fact, how I score the success of the show is:
- How quickly do I get to 500 views;
- How many shares I get; and
- Obviously how many likes.
If I get to 500 views I am stoked! And if I can do that within 24 hours of going live I am doing cart wheels!
I aim for 20 shares of the show.
And to be honest I don’t set a target for likes, just hope they come . . . so please keep them coming.
So if you like these numbers are my goals and how I keep score of JTInTheRaw!
Which brings me today’s show . . . the business scoreboard!
Pick up a pen and write this down: “People play differently when they are keeping score.” Let me say that again “People play differently when they are keeping score.”
What and how are you keeping score in your business?
Quite simply if the actions you are doing daily to achieve your weekly, monthly or even annual goal are not captured on a visual scoreboard and updated regularly then they will disappear in to the distraction of day to business that we call whack a mole!
The scoreboard in your business – no matter the size of your business – tells the team where they are and where they should be. This is critical information required for the team to problem solve and make decisions.
This is why a great team cannot function without a scoreboard that compels action from them. Without a scoreboard your team lacks energy, intensity lags and the team just goes into operation mode.
Ok so you need a scoreboard. Easy right? You can whip one up this morning!
Noooooooooooo!
You and your Team need to build a player’s scoreboard. This has to be designed to engage the players on your team.
To drive execution in your business, remember the scoreboard has data to indicate:
- Here is where we are at right now;
- Here is where we need to be.
In 5 seconds or less any Team member – no matter how many hours they work or how many weeks they have worked for you – can determine if your business is winning or losing.
The fundamental purpose of the player’s scoreboard is to motivate them to win!
A minute ago I asked you to write something down: people play differently when they are keeping score. The emphasis here is on THEY! There is a very different feeling when the team update the scoreboard rather you. When your team first designs and then updates your scoreboards they begin to connect their behaviours with reaching the goals. You need to let go and empower your team.
What should your scoreboard look like?
Here are 4 design points:
- Keep it simple! You need data to manage the game. Your team just needs the data to play the game.
- Make it visible to the team. Your team must see the scoreboard several times a day, so they never forget what they are playing for.
- It must show actions and results. The scoreboard needs to show what the team can affect and what they are getting from those actions.
- At a glance know the score. Your team must be able to determine quickly if they are winning or losing. When they can, you have game. When they can’t you have data.
Scoreboards are a key way to engage your Team.
In a 2001 article in HBR it was noted “the power of progress is fundamental to human nature but few managers understand it or know how to leverage progress to boost motivation.”
The scoreboard shows progress! It will drive results. And it will instill a culture of winning.
What is the score in your business today? Who knows it? And what needs to be done between now and 5pm to determine if Friday is winning!?!
I hope this message resonates for you and may give you a little nudge to tweak your scoreboard.
If you know someone whom you think could benefit from understanding why they should have a scoreboard in their business, please tag them in the comments below.
Just quietly, we are in the process of building scoreboards for Active Management and The Fitness Business Podcast.
Build your scoreboard so everyone knows if you are winning or losing.
What do you think? Hit like if you love the idea of a scoreboard in your business.
Now I have some huge news for #JTInTheRaw, actually 3 bits of news:
- Did you know EVERY #JTInTheRaw can be viewed on You Tube. There is a #JTInTheRaw You Tube Channel. Just pop JT in the comments below and I’ll send you the link to the channel.
- Beginning in September, I’ll be launching the #JTInTheRaw podcast. You’ll hear more about that in August.
- I am in the process of writing an ebook full of JTisms! These are fun facts, tools and thoughts to help your business and your leadership. This will be available in late August, stay tuned for how to grab a copy.
Perhaps the biggest news, I am going on holidays next week! A genuine holiday where I will be off the grid work wise for 11 days! I have promised my family to be present in body and mind on the holiday, which means there will be no #JTInTheRaw next Friday – you get a break from me! This is why you should hit up the You Tube channel and watch your favourite show! Pop JT in the comments and I’ll send you the link.
I will see you on Friday 14th July!
Before I go . . . the famous quote of the week . . . as our theme today was about scoreboards I want to remind you of why you should have them: “People play differently when they are keeping score.”
“People play differently when they are keeping score.”
Thanks for all your support over the past year . . . and here’s to another year of you guys and gals watching #JTInTheRaw. That sounds so wrong but so me!
Have a great 2 weeks . . .
Do you want to work one on one with JT?
Check out all previous shows here: http://www.activemgmt.com.au/category/jt-in-the-raw/
Justin is the Managing Director of Active Management, which he began January 2004. He offers coaching to businesses worldwide in everything from start up and design to marketing and sales systems. Justin also facilitates four Australian and New Zealand ‘fitness industry roundtables’ events, which allows him to see a huge cross section of business models.