America is changing, people. The president wants family-friendly workplaces. Companies are getting more flexible. And Americans are starting to embrace soccer.
Jurgen Klinsmann, coach of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer team even wrote a note excusing Americans from work last week to watch the World Cup match against Germany. For those who couldn’t get out of work, many companies put the match on in the workplace, allowing employees to keep up on the action.
Aside from the morale boost of supporting our team, letting employees watch the World Cup could have other benefits as well. The more I watch, the more I realize that World Cup fans just may be the ultimate career mentors.
Think about it.
World Cups Fans are Passionate
Getting employees to care about their jobs as much as World Cup fans care about their teams could be a huge win for employee engagement. One of the most important parts of getting the best work out of employees is getting them to genuinely care about what they are doing and feel invested in the outcome.
World Cup Fans Have a Common Goal
Having a team of people work together to reach a common goal is a huge part of what makes companies successful. Even small businesses rely on people working together in a cohesive way. When employees want different things or have conflicting strategies, attentions get split and work often suffers.
World Cup fans may not agree on everything, but they know to unite when it comes to cheering on their team. They have a “we’re all in this together” mentality that workplaces can really learn from.
World Cup Fans are Enthusiastic
Even after hours of painstakingly applying face paint, travelling to the stadium, cheering at the top of their lungs and holding their breath during free kicks, World Cup fans maintain their enthusiasm and dedication to the task at hand. They don’t rest until the job is done.
While face paint and wooing may not be staples of most workplaces, enthusiasm is a highly desirable quality in an employee. Enthusiastic team members can be relied on even during long days and often pick up the spirits of their fellow employees.
World Cup Fans Don’t Give Up
At the end of the day, businesses want employees that will never stop fighting. World Cup fans are still cheering on their teams until the very last second, even when they know the match is over. That sort of dedication is something that any company would want from their employees.
So while you cheer on your favorite team during the rest of this World Cup, pay special attention to the fans and channel that spirit into your work.
Erin Palmer is a writer and editor who hopes to see the U.S. team in the World Cup finals. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including The Chicago Tribune and The Huffington Post.
Please Leave A Comment
Related posts:
Study: “Yes Men” Damage Chances of Project Success through Bad Reporting
Survey: 82 Percent of Graduates Said Having a Degree Helped Their Career
Top Ten Reasons Entrepreneurs Should Channel David Letterman
Content Marketing Success: First, Build Your Audience, then Monetize
4 Mompreneurs Who Are Changing the World