By Colin Thompson, Commercial Director, ICS Accounting
I don’t know if it’s the highs and lows of Euro fever still reverberating, or the school holidays and long evenings that had my thoughts ping-ponging between sport and business. Both passions which occupy a lot of my friends and colleagues time and headspace, the two might not seem as opposed as you might think. It’s right there in our shared language of goals, teamwork, manoeuvres and opponents.
I’m a huge sports fan and many of our staff are avid followers of football and cricket and we’ve got the Olympics soon, so I’ll be keeping my eye on that. Here at ICS Accounting we’re committed to playing a significant role in supporting local grassroots cricket by sponsoring the Westmorland Cricket League.
What parallels could we draw from, say, football to the workplace?
Making sure you welcome, support and incorporate new signings In transfer-season (company expansion), boosting your league position/reputation by aiming for customer satisfaction, or driving for the top but not neglecting your underlying set-pieces (it’s not always about the distracting shiny silverware). Before I face relegation by comparing embracing new technologies to VAR (I know which arguments to back away from), let’s pull out a few more crossover tips:
Teamwork and collaboration are essential to well-performing teams, on and off the pitch. Even if you’re a sole trader or contractor, trust and communication are just as vital between you, clients, employers, suppliers and more. An expanding business will soon find itself scuppered without a cohesive culture, shared goals, and two-way communication.
Leadership: effective sports coaches, managers and captains provide direction and motivate players. Called upon to make crucial decisions under pressure, your leadership hinges on inspiring, motivating, and fostering a healthy environment. What kind of “captain” are you? Maybe a well-aimed football boot (real or metaphorical, Sir Alex) might not be the best motivating tactic? Without competitive drive and continuous improvement, Mo Farah would still be trackside, lacing up his shoes. Whether your ambitions are for yourself or your “team”, the desire to reach for the top fuels commitment, motivation, the ability to bounce back, learn, adapt, innovate, improve and ultimately reach the top. Ideally not on your own, but with those you’ve brought with you.
Adaptability and resilience: just as athletes must adapt to injuries, weather, and opponents’ tactics, companies and contractors must likewise be resilient and agile in response to changing markets, economic climate, regulations and technologies.
Celebration, rest and recovery. 90-minute football match or a 5-day cricket test, all sports have a conclusion, something it’s easy to forget in business. If you’re working for yourself, don’t let midnight marathons become the norm. If you lead a team, when did you last call for half time and oranges?
Taking time to stop, reflect, celebrate and reconnect means you’ll re-enter the field of play far more refreshed, cohesive, and ready to enjoy the game. Work-life balance shouldn’t be another tick-box phrase; we owe much more to our staff, colleagues, family, and ourselves. When you’re performing on whatever pitch you inhabit, think of those who cheer you on from the stands. That’s your community. It could be time to unite the two sides; connecting what you do best and enjoy the most.
It reminded me that ICS Accounting’s clients are all playing their own match; if we can make it easier for them through our expertise- seamless accountancy, tax and payroll services, digital access and personal telephone support, say- then we’re all winners- and certainly finding the game easier and more pleasurable.
Don’t forget you, and your business, are part of your community. With 33 member clubs, and 62 teams competing across four divisions, the Westmorland Cricket League is certainly no little knockabout. By supporting and championing it, I like to think of all the players, supporters, families and followers it connects ICS with, across our community.
Certainly better than trying to play the game on your own!
