Playbook for Success: A Hall of Famer's Business Tactics for Teamwork and Leadership

Chapter 9. Sports Talk

Make sports a part of your business conversations and then marvel that something so simple can infiltrate the hearts of the toughest men in the world and create an instantaneous relationship.

—Nancy Lieberman

I've emphasized repeatedly throughout this book that you don't have to have been an athlete to benefit in the workplace from the lessons sports can teach. In this chapter, this play, we'll take that concept one step further. It's time to become more involved with sports overall—whether as a spectator or a player—so that you can participate more fully in your office "sports talk."

You don't have to be a star athlete to play golf or tennis recreationally, or even to work out at a gym. Participating in these activities at any level will give you your own personal sports vocabulary, as well as a level of knowledge that will help you find common ground among business contacts and colleagues. What's more, you'll enjoy how you look and feel as a result of your hard work and commitment. And as an interested spectator, you'll find yourself more accepted as part of the team when office talk turns to the playoff games.

For starters, get involved when the March Madness pool e-mail goes out. Go online and buy some tickets to sporting events, then use them as an opportunity to spend some quality time with your boss and other decision makers. By now, you no doubt are aware that sports often are a key component of workplace camaraderie. It's time to use it to your advantage. ...