Most businesses enjoy seasonal cycles where predictable windows of opportunity are leveraged to strengthen talent and performance. Highly visible off-season changes frequently overshadow the more subtle in-season adaptations orchestrated by strong leaders. The standard business playbook may have called for the recruitment of a particular type of talent to fill some turnover gap so the leader might field his or her best team. However, the standard playbook is often scrapped when an unforeseen mid-season disruption alters the priorities.
Strategic substitution transforms crisis to opportunity. Sometimes a smart risk stretches the capacity of a team and fuels the momentum of discovery. Finding a way to score when traditional means have failed separates those who play on from those who go home to plan their off-season changes.
In the complexity of predicting team performance, four anchors remain constant:
- Alignment with a common mission/goal.
- Accountability to collaborate respectfully.
- Willingness to stretch beyond the comfort zone.
- Poise and resilience during transitions and capacity to re-engage in new circumstances.
In the World Cup of business, this foundation will support any in-game maneuvers required when the game plan goes awry.