Recently, Peter Engler and team of the wonderful website The33rdTeam.com did a deep dive into what actually wins NFL games. They evaluated all 5000+ regular season and play-off games since 2000. The study identified the 65 most-common factors that determined the difference between team success and failure.
You can read their full article and its results by clicking HERE.
As I read the study and accompanying chart below, I realized the things that win NFL games are alarmingly similar to what causes success in churches, businesses, and non-profits. Check out the chart below and then we will unpack the results in greater detail.
The following are 5 Things Churches, Businesses, And Non-Profits Need To Know That Win NFL Games (And Will Win For Them Too):
Eliminate Unnecessary Mistakes
Three of the top-four results were related to turnovers. Simply put, the winning team made less-costly mistakes than the losing team. Mistakes made out of effort and trying new things are a chance to learn and inspire growth. Smart leaders encourage those mistakes. However, unnecessary mistakes, careless mistakes, and a lack of concentration set organizations back… sometimes to a point which they cannot recover.
Get Better Leaders
The third most common factor was a high quarterback rating. In other words, the team’s on-field leader performed at an elite level. If you want a better organization, get a better leader. If you want a better department, get a better leader. If you want to grow your church, improve the preaching. If you are not achieving the results you want, you may not need to go as far as replacing your leader. But the leader definitely needs to improve for you to go to the next level.
Start Fast
You never have to recover from a good start. NFL teams that scored the most first-half points won 77.58% of the games. If you are in business, you understand the value of a strong Q1. A fast start gives you margin and allows you to innovate and easily recover from unexpected events throughout the year. It also allows you to control the pace and dictate the terms. You can take your time on some things. Conversely, a slow start causes a sense of desperation and forces you to spend the rest of the year (or quarter or semester) digging out of the hole. A slow start uses up all your margin.
Execute Under Pressure
NFL teams that scored the most second-half points won 73.66% of their games. Because most NFL games are decided by a single possession (7 points or less), the ability to execute under high-pressure, late-game situations is often the difference between winning and losing. Every organization has high-stakes moments. Maybe it’s trying to secure a big contract or get significant funding. The ability to get the job done during those times is the key to your team’s success.
Focus On The Fundamentals
Let’s face it, the passing game is more flashy and gets the headlines. We love seeing the ball in the air. The ground game is boring. But as you see in the chart above, teams with the most rushing yards won 71.35% of the games. It might be boring but it’s more effective. Churches like to focus on light shows, loud music, coffee bars, and hazer machines but it’s prayer, preaching, and serving children and youth which grow your church. Businesses like to focus on the latest social media craze but it is serving your customers well which grow your business. You can’t outrun or gloss over bad references. At the end of the day, it’s people who buy from people.
Eliminate Unnecessary Mistakes. Get Better Leaders. Start Fast. Execute Under Pressure. Focus On The Fundamentals. This is what wins games in the NFL. It will also win for your church, business, or non-profit as well.
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Therefore, the fundamentals of leadership are more important than ever. The quotes in this book deal with the basics of leadership. If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, click HERE or on the image provided to download this FREE resource. The lessons learned from last year, if applied, will sustain you for years to come.