Q uite often we have a need to pass something along in life and in business. Since the Super Bowl just happened (congratulations Kansas City Chiefs), it seems timely to use football as an analogy. During a football pass, a team generally calls the play ahead of time. After the snap, the quarterback (QB) aims the ball, throws, and the receiver catches it. Sometimes the pass isn’t deliberate, but there’s a rush and the QB just needs to get the ball out of his hands and down field.
Let’s consider another sports analogy, a relay race. I was a runner in high school and even though I was a distance runner, sometimes my coach would put me in a relay race. During a relay race, a baton is passed from one runner to another. The pass itself is very deliberate. The approaching runner positions the baton in such a way that the receiving runner can grab it and continue running. The runners balance the need to be careful to not drop the baton and the need to maintain momentum in order to run fast. 1000 Ton Excavator
Not all of us are football players or relay race runners, but most all of use have a regular need to pass something along. Examples include: tasks, messages, knowledge, authority, physical objects, money, and so forth. Most of the time the pass is deliberate in which both the passer (or sender) and the receiver know about the pass ahead of time. Circumstances may dictate an unplanned pass. Whether it’s a deliberate or unplanned pass, it’s best to be prepared.
I believe that “mastering the pass” is one of the most essential skills in working with other people. Although sometimes there’s a need to pass things through several people, let’s focus on mastering the pass from just one person to another. When the pass is mastered, then you can be assured the right things are being handed off, best positioning the receiver for success. Here are some ways to master the completed pass:
A business leader must be prepared to pass along knowledge, tasks, and authority in order to grow and perpetuate an organization. Team members should understand they do not work in a vacuum. They need to be knowledgable about their chosen profession and speak up when additional information is needed. There’s no excuse for “no one told me”. In fact, a fundamental legal principle in our country is that “ignorance of the law is no defense.” I believe the same is true in business. Taking initiative to have situational awareness is implied by being a productive member of a team and society in general.
Highly functioning teams are those that know how to master the completed pass. What will you be passing or receiving this week? Aim true and complete the pass.
[Joe Domaleski, a Fayette County resident for 25 years, is the owner of Country Fried Creative – an award-winning digital marketing agency located in Peachtree City. His company was the Fayette Chamber’s 2021 Small Business of the Year. Joe is a husband, father of three grown children, and proud Army veteran. He has an MBA from Georgia State University and enjoys sharing his perspectives drawing from thirty years of business leadership experience. ]
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