"To get where you want to go, you can't only do what you like."
~Peter Abrahams, South African novelist Tell Freedom, 1954
Soccer is a game that's often played just outside my office window. I'm quite fortunate to have a view that looks out onto nothing but green - lots of big trees, grass and, the best part of all, a small soccer field near a school.
At recess, the field is flooded with kids doing all kinds of things. Some are cartwheeling or practicing nifty dances. Others have plunked themselves down on the field and are picking dandelions, minding their own business. Some are even playing soccer, kind of.
It's a bit of a "no-rules" soccer they play. There are goal posts, sometimes, though rarely any out-of-bounds markers. The kids run all over the place, even scoring from BEHIND the goals. You should see the constant debates about what's in or out. It's hilarious.
Some of us view "rules" and "structure" as something to avoid. Rules imply a lack of freedom, or being told what to do in some way. These people value spontaneity or creativity and don't want it squashed. In fact, most of us have the need to operate without rules at some time or another.
The problem is, unharnessed "freedom" can become a jail in and of itself.
Imagine playing competitive soccer in an environment without those pesky "rules." Pick the ball up with your hands? Sure! Out of bounds? What's the point, we play where we want. Rugby-type tackles allowed? Why not, it makes you tough. Two teams? Naw, too constraining. Goals posts? Forget it. I'll never "miss the net" if we don't use one.
It would be anarchy. You'd spend the entire game looking over your shoulder. Once you got the ball, you wouldn't have freedom at all. You'd be more worried about getting clobbered from behind, let alone knowing who to pass it to or where to run with it.
You'd constantly second-guess you were making the "right" decision because, really, you don't have a clue about where you're going. Also, there would be so much "interpretation" about the rules along the way, the game would be stalled by continuous debate.
Where's the creativity and freedom in a game like that? There isn't any.
Structure can be good.
Coaching Fieldwork
The international players in soccer's World Cup are some of the most physically gifted people on the planet. When they play "inside" the rules of soccer, they are free to produce often jaw-dropping play. [some World cup photo of two players battling it out or something…]
Appropriate structure has the potential to help us create our own version of jaw-dropping work, whatever that may be.
Here are some examples of supportive structure that allows you to focus on "playing your game" vs. worrying about HOW it's being played.
1. Declaring what game you're playing to others around you. Are you playing soccer or hockey? If you don't declare the game to the other players, they won't know how to support you. A clear outline of the game you're playing is key; otherwise, many will be "picking flowers" unaware of what you're up to and getting in the way.
2. Setting objectives of the game. What are you trying to accomplish, really? Product X out the door by Y date with Z quality rating? Twenty-five new customers by September 30? Without clear objectives, you'll always second-guess your decisions because you haven't done your thinking up-front about what's important.
3. Agreeing about how we'll play the game together. How will we conduct our team meetings? What do we do when there's a disagreement? Do you get a "yellow/red" card? What "positions" are each of us playing or responsible for? If we're unclear here, we'll constantly look over our shoulders or cover for others unnecessarily.
4. Implementing processes to keep us on track. How do we create a system that lets us know whether we're off course? What milestones do we need? What reminders need to be in place? Like referees, you want a system you can trust that allows you to focus on the game.
Do you sometimes feel paralyzed about what to do next because you've got so much going on? Creating a "World-Cup quality" system to support you can be one of the quickest routes to producing jaw-dropping work.
Check out The Productivity Toolkit and see why people are getting excited about the new-found freedom they get from the program. We've already started filling the Fall Session and spaces are limited.
By Jamie Broughton of Footprint Leadership. Please visit Jamie's web site at www.Footprint.ca for additional leadership articles and resources for new and emerging leaders.
© 2006, Jamie Broughton
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