Women’s Volleyball and Consulting
I’m going to explain why the US won (in fact, had the two top teams, gold and silver) in women’s beach volleyball, a sport I watch for two reasons, one of which is the sheer athleticism.
If you can’t immediately score, you want to, at a minimum, get the ball over the net. Not every shot is a “kill shot,” not every serve is an ace. The objective short of that is to keep the ball in play.
You never give up on a ball if it hasn’t touched the sane. Some amazing “digs” kept balls in play so that it can be retrieved. You can hit the ball off the net, as well.
It never pays to argue with the referee that there’s been a bad call or you’ve been mistreated, even though both events may actually have occurred. Your best bet for victory is to get your head back in the game and stop making a case that you’re a victim.
Sand is forgiving. You can fall or even dive into it, and you won’t get hurt. Injuries are rare, no one is ever killed.
The best way to deal with a bruised ego is to win the next point.
Conditioning is vital. You need the stamina for long rallies and long games. It’s not unusual to rally from a deficit.
You don’t have to win by 21 points or shutout the opponents. You only have to win by two points at most, and that’s only if the game is close at the end.
The best way to defend against a potential kill shot from the other team is to try to block it, not run from it. You time your leap at the net, in their faces, and try to knock the ball right back into their court.
Sometimes a soft shot will score easily if it’s timed and placed well and the other side is expecting a slam in their faces.
The crowd plays a huge part if it’s a support system for you, rooting you on.
Even though the coach isn’t with you on the sand, the coach is present, has prepared you, and is watching.
You can’t win them all. You just have to win more than you lose.
I think you can see the relationship to consulting. I don’t consider prospects “the other side” or “competitors,” but I do think too many of you are playing baseball—trying to hit every pitch out of the park—rather than merely trying to keep the ball in play until the propitious moment.
(I believe sunglasses and bikinis probably help, as well, but I haven’t studied this sufficiently as of yet.)
And here’s to the dynamic duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh for winning Olympic gold for a third, consecutive time!
© Alan Weiss 2012. All rights reserved.
Dennis Snow
Agree with everything you said, especially about the bikinis. One other lesson that comes from beach volleyball is the importance of setting your teammate up for success. It doesn’t matter who makes the point as long as the point is made. I truly appreciate how the best teams focus on setting up the best shot, regardless of who gets to make the shot. Teammates in consulting certainly include the client as well as consulting colleagues involved in an engagement. Just like in sports, too many egos vying to be the one to “make the kill” end up with some great shots, but no championships.
Annette Williams
I play beach volleyball and love this article! I was impressed and inspired by the athleticism and hustle of the Olympic athletes. You never saw them give up on a point….always trying to get there and at least get a hand on the ball. Perfect example of “you can’t succeed if you don’t try”.
Alan Weiss
Thanks to both of you. A lot of lessons in watching these athletes.
Jim Powell
I have a feeling you enjoyed writing that post as much as I/we did reading it.
By the way, if you are working as a partnership, make sure you communicate well with your partner. If that means giving hand signals behind your back just below waist level then so be it.