“You came out fighting!” – when sports metaphors hit the office
Nearly every conundrum at work can be tackled with the help of an appropriate sports metaphor. You shared your favorites with us on social media.
It’s the day of that big client pitch you’ve been preparing for. In the morning, you get in the zone at the gym. Endorphins are flowing. You visualise facing the client and imagine the desired outcome (winning the account, no less). You form a huddle and get some extra motivation from your teammates. Then, you’re off.
Your game plan works. During the presentation, you feel confident. Your opposition nods in agreement as you spice up the story with some sports anecdotes.
A week later, the client replies. You nailed it. Colleagues come up to you with praise. “You hit that one out of the park!” “Good job – you just won one for the team!”
Sounds familiar? Comments like these reveal that we often think, talk and act like athletes in business, no matter what side of the table we sit on. Thank you for sharing your athlete’s heart with us through your favorite sports metaphors and quotes on Twitter and LinkedIn. Below are some of the highlights.
@Runtastic: We like that one too! We always like to go the extra mile, whether we’re in the office or out running.
LinkedIn adidas
Anne von Kreuter: Connect and hit it clear out of the park!
Matthew Holmes: You can’t find the target every time.
Dwayne Britton: By holding the meeting at our offices, we leverage a home court advantage, providing greater likelihood of scoring a win for our team.
LinkedIn adidas Group
Beverly Sasagawa Palar: Adaptation inspiration from yoga: Bend so you don’t break. AND surfing: You can’t stop the waves but you can learn how to surf.
adidas Group employees
Keeling, Toni: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth
Mohseni, Shaba: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” – Henry Ford
Schloer, Sophia: “Win if you can, lose if you must, but never give up.” – Cameron Trammell
Anand, Aman: “Decisions determine destiny.” – Frederick Speakman
Brandon, Mary: “Be bold. If you’re going to make an error, make it a doozy, and don’t be afraid to hit the ball.” – Billie Jean King
Wyckoff, Bruce: Play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.
Aznar, Marga: “I always thought records were there to be broken.” – Michael Schumacher
Bhardwaj, Shubham: “When you’ve got something to prove, there’s nothing greater than a challenge.” – Terry Bradshaw
Another one of my favorite sports quotes about hard work is this one: "I've had smarter people around me all my life, but I haven't run into one yet that can outwork me. And if they can't outwork you, then smarts aren't going to do them much good. That's just way it is. And if you believe that and live by it, you'd be surprised at how much fun you can have." --Woody Hayes
Hey Margaret,
we were overwhelmed by all the submitted sports metaphors and comments. It shows that taking sportsmanship with you to the office makes us and our work life better. Your athletic mindset is an inspiration for others.
Keep on rocking! :)
Best,
Nina
EXTERNAL REFERRALS
“YOU CAME OUT FIGHTING!” – WHEN SPORTS METAPHORS HIT THE OFFICE | Yugi Widojoko