A former NFL player turned leadership coach offers his advice for the business community going into the new year.
Key Details
- Eric Boles is a former NFL wide receiver turned leadership coach and CEO of The Game Changers Inc.—a company that provides leadership keynotes and training.
- He recently appeared on the Atlanta Small Business Show (ASB) hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick to discuss how leaders can foster successful teams.
- His three pieces of advice are to manage with intent, prioritize consistency over intensity, and to be flexible.
Why It’s Important
Sunday marked the start of the new year, and many people are taking stock of their lives as they move into 2003—making plans to improve their lives, work hard, and treat others better. Fitzpatrick brought Boles onto his show to discuss the year ahead and how to approach organizational and individual success.
The NFL is a very leadership-focused organization, with everyone having to report to their coaches or owners as they approach their decision-making and strategies. Boles was surprised this leadership level didn’t follow him into the corporate world. He found too many leaders to expect a team of individuals to work on their own without any trouble, not to communicate and work together directly.
“When I transitioned to business, I noticed alot of organizations or businesses were running like a quarterback going into a huddle and saying just get open, and that doesn’t work. I try to use the same things that got me into the NFL and apply them as a business and an entrepreneur,” says Boles.
Operating a strong team is often more about understanding the needs of your team than how to be the most productive leader. Boles follows the advice of his coach that consistency is preferable to intensity, and that attempting to maximize productivity and high motivation won’t always bring the best results.
Steadying the pace of a workforce can actually get better productivity and morale than trying to push a team harder. A leader needs to make themselves more flexible, reacting as necessary to new challenges without being too strict.