“Run the Dang Ball, Burt!”

Ever seen The Blind Side? There's a classic scene where Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael Oher's adoptive mom, calls the football coach during a game. She's yelling into the phone, "Run the dang ball, Burt!"

Why was she so upset? Well, the team was clearly better at running plays. But the coach, Burt, was insistent on passing. He was ignoring the team's strengths, and it was costing them the game.

Underutilized Talent is a Waste

This scene is a perfect analogy for how we often approach teams, whether it's at work, in our communities, or even at home. We often try to force people into roles that don't fit their strengths. This can lead to underutilized talent, low morale, and even team turnover.

Imagine a brilliant writer who's forced to do data entry. Or a talented artist who's asked to lead a sales team. These individuals will likely feel unfulfilled, unmotivated, and eventually, they may start looking for a different opportunity.

Lean Into Your Team's Strengths

So, how do we avoid this trap? The answer is simple: lean into our team's strengths. Just like Leigh Anne Tuohy knew the team was better at running, we need to identify the unique talents and skills of each individual on our team.

This might require some observation, conversation, and even a few personality tests. But once we understand the strengths of each team member, we can start to assign tasks and responsibilities that play to their strengths.

A Real-Life Example

I once worked on a project with a team of five people. We were all assigned equal tasks, regardless of our skills. One team member, let's call her Maria, was a natural leader. She was great at organizing, delegating, and motivating the team. Another team member, let's call him Ben, was a creative genius. He had a knack for coming up with innovative ideas and solutions.

When we realized this, we made some adjustments. We put Maria in charge of the project, and we gave Ben more freedom to brainstorm and come up with creative solutions. The results were incredible. The project was completed on time, under budget, and exceeded expectations.

Beyond the Workplace

This concept of leveraging strengths isn't just limited to the workplace. It can also be applied to other areas of your life, like at home or in your community.

For example, if you're planning a family vacation, you might assign the task of booking flights and accommodations to the family member who's the most organized. Or if you're volunteering at a local charity, you might put the person who's the most outgoing in charge of fundraising.

The Takeaway

In the end, it's about recognizing that everyone has unique talents and skills. By leaning into those strengths, we can create more effective teams, happier individuals, and better outcomes. So, the next time you're building a team, remember the words of Leigh Anne Tuohy: "Run the dang ball, Burt!"