Leadership lessons from fantasy football

While I personally don’t participate in fantasy football, much of my staff does, so I know of the strategies that take place on draft day and the spirited comradery that happens week after week as their teams compete.

As some of my staff, and likely some of yours, gears up for this year’s NFL season, I thought I’d highlight some similarities – and shared strategies – between leadership and fantasy football.

An article in Forbes notes five connections between leadership and fantasy football and highlights that “strategy is of the upmost importance” to both. Here are a few of the connections made in the article that stuck out to me:

– Get your players in the right positions. No fantasy football team would be complete without a quarterback or wide receiver. Likewise, a leader needs to make sure their people are in the right positions where their skills and talents will best benefit the organization.

– It’s all about results. In fantasy football, it’s about winning and putting together the best team each week. In the business world, it’s about the launching of a new product, streamlining processes or increasing revenue.

continue reading »