The Difference Between Business & Sport

The difference between business and sport. Is there any? I would argue probably not. Even at the grass roots amateur level there are requirements which need to be in place to protect players and administrators. Of course, sport isn’t just about fun. It’s about competition and winning. Sometimes at any cost.

I wrote recently about sporting entities finding themselves in the Fair Work Commission. One case related to disagreement regarding the obligations of a contract between a coach and a football club. The other case related to a claim of unfair dismissal. These cases highlights the legal obligations of a business. The law and its requirement for businesses to comply with the law are there for a reason. Again, even at the grass roots, your local hockey club or touch football club, need to meet certain legal requirements to be able to operate and allow us to play the sports we love.

Along with the legal side of the equation is the culture aspect. Years of research and now neuroscience prove the impact of culture on the performance of a business. Culture also impacts on the performance of sporting teams and their clubs. That’s probably no surprise to anyone. We’ve witnessed what a great culture can create with examples such as the Maroons NRL Team steered by Mal Meninga, Hawthorn AFL Teams and the Broncos Rugby League Team of the 1990’s.

I know of sporting clubs, in the last decade, who had external parties review their business including their culture. The review included individuals within the business and sporting team participating in 360 degree feedback on themselves. The same year these clubs invested in this review they went on to win premierships – AFL’s Geelong and Sydney Swans and the NRL’s Sydney Roosters.

Whether it’s a business, sporting club, service club or church group, there are similarities. Yes, the legal requirements must be met. Importantly, when a group of people come together, there are social needs which must be met for the entity to be successful.

Have you met all your requirements – legally and culturally? How is that impacting your performance?