At Your Service: Practice like a pro

He turned the team around, winning five championships of which three were in consecutive years. No wonder the Super Bowl trophy is named after him!

With a room full of professional football players, he did something so effective that many businesses should take note. He took his players back to the basics. Each year, at the start of the season, he would hold up a football and say, “This is a football!”

They would then practice the fundamentals of tackling, blocking, receiving and running. He continued to work with the team until they honed their skills in each part of the game. They are still considered by many to be the greatest football team during any era.

If you want your business to be the Green Bay Packers of your industry, going back to the basics is a great place to start. If you are willing to practice like a pro in your business every day, I guarantee you will take your business and employees to levels your competition cannot match. Change your thinking, stay focused, and do the time to lay the groundwork for success.

Here are five things you need to do before working with your team on the basics:

1. Read/train often
Use articles and books on your specific subject so you are up to speed with current issues or trends. Take training sessions that will help you learn new techniques and give you a refresher or different viewpoint on areas you are already fairly confident in.

Ask for help – no one has to do this alone! Many successful businesses hire business coaches or mentors to work with them. This is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength. It shows your team that you are committed to making the business better, which in turn, usually means more money and benefits for everyone.

2. Exercise
There is a direct link between physical exercise and business performance. I know this from firsthand experience. If we just work, work, work, eventually we will burn out and possibly fade away. By making the time to take care of our body, we gain energy and clarity. It reduces stress and helps us maintain a positive attitude. I cannot say enough how important exercise is in the wellbeing of your body and business.

3. Reflection
It is equally important to take time each day to reflect on where you are at, personally and professionally. Whether you choose to meditate, do yoga, or find a quiet place to close your eyes and reflect on the day, this is extremely beneficial to your health and the health of your business. I, personally, have struggled with this for many years. I always find something that needs to be done and before I know it, the day is gone. By scheduling it in your daytimer, planner or phone it will force you to make time until it becomes a habit. Sometimes, even laying down for 20 minutes on the couch where all you hear is the silence can be very beneficial.

4. Stay the course
It is easy to get sidetracked. You must stay the course in order to see results in yourself and in your team. Commit to one year of working on yourself and I know you will not stop after this. It will become part of your regular workday.

In the next newsletter, we’ll focus on working with your team on the basics!

Russ Dantu is a 30-year veteran of the rental industry and has been delivering workshops, seminars and keynotes on customer servicce for over 15 years. For more information, visit russdantu.com or email russ@russdantu.com