Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 206 Location: Camp Verde, AZ
Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject: What is a win?
In sports, there is a score board that shows how many points each team has accumulated. They win each time they score. At the end of the game, the team with the most points has won the game.
In baseball, each team strives to get players across home plate. Each time they do they score, they have a win. Every player has a part in contributing to the win, but it is a team effort. Each of the players knows the definition of a win and they know how they contribute to it.
To take this a step further. A win for the team is to get players across home plate. But what defines a win for each player? For the batter, it is to get himself to first base and allow the other runners to get to the next base. For the pitcher, it may be to pitch the ball so that the batter can not hit it. For the players on each of the bases, it is to put the runner out.
People support winning teams, they want to be a part of them. More fans will attend the games. Winning teams will attract better players. The reverse is also true of loosing teams. Owners can spend lots of money on advertising, but the best way to fill the stadium seating is by having a winning team.
I feel that we can draw some parallels between winning sports teams and automobile repair shops. In order to do that we have to answer some questions.
1) What defines a win for your shop? [ Hint, it is not making money. Making money is a result of winning. ]
2) Is the win easily defined, and does every person know it?
3) Does everybody work together to contribute to the win?
4) What defines a win for each person in the shop?
_________________ David Wittmayer
Owner / Manager
Hansen Enterprises Fleet Repair, LLC
Camp Verde, AZ
www.hefrshop.com
Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: Re: What is a win?
Dave wrote:
In sports, there is a score board that shows how many points each team has accumulated. They win each time they score. At the end of the game, the team with the most points has won the game.
In baseball, each team strives to get players across home plate. Each time they do they score, they have a win. Every player has a part in contributing to the win, but it is a team effort. Each of the players knows the definition of a win and they know how they contribute to it.
To take this a step further. A win for the team is to get players across home plate. But what defines a win for each player? For the batter, it is to get himself to first base and allow the other runners to get to the next base. For the pitcher, it may be to pitch the ball so that the batter can not hit it. For the players on each of the bases, it is to put the runner out.
People support winning teams, they want to be a part of them. More fans will attend the games. Winning teams will attract better players. The reverse is also true of loosing teams. Owners can spend lots of money on advertising, but the best way to fill the stadium seating is by having a winning team.
I feel that we can draw some parallels between winning sports teams and automobile repair shops. In order to do that we have to answer some questions.
1) What defines a win for your shop? [ Hint, it is not making money. Making money is a result of winning. ]
2) Is the win easily defined, and does every person know it?
3) Does everybody work together to contribute to the win?
4) What defines a win for each person in the shop?
Hi Dave,
This is a great post and a great point. My thought would be, winning means accomplishment of the aim. This may sound rather straight forward, but in reality it is far more complex than it may appear.
I think, by my definition, most people "win" every day. That is they accomplish many of their aims. Life would be very difficult if not. The conflict comes with the definition of aim. An aim can be totally selfish, as is my aim is to satisfy my immediated wants. It can also be totally selfless, as in I wish to make things better for others.
Most of the time it is some combination of both. This is where true management [leadership] unites people for a common aim. Meeting the common aim is much easier when doing so also meets as many personal aims as possible. For instance, the aim of a company may be total client satisfaction. Meeting this could mean more profit for the company and in a just company a much better life style for each member.
Without leadership, people tend to concentrate more on short-term and selfish aims. For instance a junkie may consider a "win" when they get their fix and an alcoholic when they get drunk. Clearly this is a perversion and I realize not the point of your post. I think the point is, management can and should establish what winning is and give people a way to realize when they have accomplished the aim.
This is a great topic and I believe speaks quite well for you as a manager. I think contemplation of such topics indicates basic hygiene needs have been well met and a person has advanced to a much higher state, as a manager. Thanks Dave, I appreciate your contributions and hope others will lend their thoughts.
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