Mike Driessen’s Post

Outcomes vs Process Last night I went to see the behind-the-scenes documentary of Collingwood's dramatic and successful 2023 AFL (Australian Football) campaign. One point that interested me with my work hat on was how the central figure of the coach reconciled two seemingly contradictory aspects of the game: 1. A focus on process over outcomes. Whether his team won or lost, the coach would emphasise that there were areas for improvement, and this was helpful, especially given the public and high-pressure nature of professional sport. 2. A reminder not to forget about outcomes! When the team did poorly on certain metrics and yet managed to win, or when his team was on a losing streak, he reminded them that ultimately they needed to "find a way to win", and that other than the final scoreline the stats didn't matter. My reflection: In professional sport, the objectives are fairly obvious: * score more goals than the opposition to win games * win enough games and the games that matter to win the whole league. So it can be easy to over-focus on these outcomes at the expense of process and game-plan, which is where constituent improvements tend to occur. In organisational work, the objectives are not as clear, and the complexity can be very great indeed, so one can lose track of outcomes - hence the emphasis on customer focus, moving the needle (outcomes) etc. It's a "both, and" kind of world, but simple advice often relies on correction to a bias — one way or the other — rather than an essential truth! Do I recommend the documentary - only for Collingwood die-hards! ;-) #leadership #outcomes #process #flagpies

Preparation: If Patrick Mahomes or Brock Purdy slacked off during Super Bowl preparations and made a mistake in the big game, and threw a bad pass, what would they lose? Maybe just a down, or at the very worst, a game. In my sport/business, poor preparation and mistakes can be a lot more dire. Lives can be at stake. Operating on the edge of what might be possible requires Exacting Human Performance- Operating under Pressure – in Compressed Time frames. My sport/business demands preparation at the highest levels which in turn creates a S.A.F.E. environment – Speed Agility & Flawless Execution. The bi-product is more celebrations on the Victory Podium. #beextraordinary

Healthy competition can be the key to a winning team culture and create the breeding ground for a successful future for teams both on an off the pitch. However, balancing the pursuit of team competition versus the individuals journey of self-discovery can be complex. Take a listen to our professor Dr. Jacob Naish talk to Ben Mee and Matt Warner about how to begin navigating competition for best results. Lucy Mills Preeti Shetty Sam Holden Dan Strode #football #sznone #future #competition

Small Wins Count Just As Much As Big Ones! Yesterday’s football games was just incredible, wasn’t it? As I watched, I realized something important. There are two ways to win a football game: the obvious way, by trying to outscore your opponent as much as possible, and another way by maintaining possession of the ball longer than your opponent so you can dictate the pace of the game. While the more entertaining option is the ladder—high-scoring, big-play football I'm not convinced it's the most effective or sustainable. In my opinion, playing methodically, focusing on rushing and gradually advancing down the field, is more effective . What does this teach us? Everyone wants those big wins and life-changing moments, but they’re not always sustainable. What’s more sustainable is focusing on the little things and accumulating a series of "small" wins. Over time, these small victories can be even more beneficial. (Thanks to Marc Lev Shulman for the inspiration) #SmallWins #Sustainability #FootballStrategy #LifeLessons #ConsistencyMatters #WinningMindset #FocusOnTheLittleThings #SuccessJourney

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐫 Football doesn’t care where you come from—your wealth, privilege, or struggles. All that matters is how you play when the ball is at your feet. Under the sun, on the pitch, everyone is equal. This became crystal clear to me during the 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐊𝐅 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐. Players from across the country, from vastly different walks of life, came together for one thing: the love of the game. During the break, the contrasts were striking. Some players—those from privileged backgrounds—retreated to their air-conditioned cars, while their drivers waited respectfully , addressing them as “𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗮.” Meanwhile, others, coming from humble beginnings, found solace under the shade of a tree, catching a breath of fresh air in the breeze. But when the whistle blew, all those differences disappeared. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆. It tested everyone equally. The match was no longer about who had ACs or who rested under trees—it was about stamina, strategy, and skill. That’s the beauty of football. It strips away all external markers of status. On the field, your pedigree, possessions, or privileges count for nothing. Only your passion, preparation, and perseverance determine the outcome. Football doesn’t just level the playing field—it teaches us that true greatness lies in what we bring to the game, not in where we come from. What has football taught you about life?

Business is a team game. I’ve often thought about how my experiences in a rugby team directly translate to life in business. Rob Cann wrote a pretty good post about it a few months ago and I was reminded of it today (link in the comments). There is no room for ego on the rugby pitch, and arguably the same can be said for business. Often decisions will be made that are for the greater good and even though your role may change it is no less important than the one you had before. Don’t get me wrong, it can feel pretty brutal in the instant that decision is made, and primal response may well be wanting to make arguments to the contrary. However, if you allow your slow-thinking brain to kick in, you will remember that this is all part of the game. Moves are made, tactics are employed and all to make sure the end goal is achieved. Park that ego at the door, remember the end game and the part you are playing, and get the job done. #NoRoomForEgos #BiggerPicture #TeamSport #Purpose

What can a sports draft teach you about having a winning team?🏈🏀 After all your goal as you start or grow your business is to be successful. To Win! ⛹🏽♀️⛹🏽♀️ 💯To win in business & in life! 🔥And there are certain players that every winning team MUST have. 
Listen in to the whole conversation from my Monday Night LIVE and part 5 of our series called Master The Marketplace on my YouTube Channel via link in my bio #BankrollYourBrilliance

what a sleazy cast of characters, Rose, the lawyer John Dowd, the insufferable A. Bartlett Giamatti who was as arrogant as arrogant could be. I was there. Pete broke the 19888 rule, but was he different than Hall of Famer McGraw. PS- I thought the lawyer John Dowd was odious. #sportsjournalism #sportsnews #sportsmedia #sportsmanagement #sportsbiz #sports #sportsevents #sportsentertainment #sportsbusiness #sportsindustry  #sportsmarketing #sportsfan #business #sportbusiness #sport #sportmanagement

Is Ezekiel Elliott the Key to Team Morale or an Impact Player? 🏈 In this video, we discuss the significance of Ezekiel Elliott's role in boosting team morale and his potential impact on the field. Join us as we analyze his performance and examine the potential outcomes for the upcoming season. #EzekielElliott #TeamMorale #ImpactPlayer #NFLFootball #FootballAnalysis #PlayerPerformance #UpcomingSeason #SportsTalk #GameChanger #AthleteMotivation