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Managing March Madness

Posted: Friday, March 13, 2009

by Jan Bolick
Business Class Inc.

How do you manage March Madness?

Do you ban office pools and game watching sessions?

Or knowing it will only last three weeks, do you "turn your head"?

Or do you participate just to "stay in the loop"?

Or do you embrace it and enjoy all the opportunities and benefits that come with it?

Or are you even concerned?

Your concern and how you handle it will of course vary by factors such as: the number of people on your team, the nature of their work, the number who are basketball fans, the rules of your company, the culture of your company, your own personal style and of course, your interest in basketball.

Even if you aren't interested in basketball, I think you will be interested in this snippet from the Business Section of The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC):

"College basketball's "March Madness" may cost employers as much as $1.7 billion in productivity, according to an annual survey by Chicago placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

"Those who insist there will be no impact are kidding themselves", said John Challenger, the firm's CEO. "The key for companies is finding a way to maximize the positive aspects of March Madness so that they outweigh the negatives." (March 11, 2008)

I agree with Mr. Challenger about the importance of "finding a way to maximize the positive aspects of March Madness so that they outweigh the negatives."

Before trying to find ways to maximize the positives, though, I must point out that there are more potential negatives than just lost time and productivity during the tournament.

AND that these negatives can linger long after the National Champion is crowned and

long after the bracket winners collect their money. Luckily, the same is true for the positives.

The last paragraph is not based on survey results but on thirty-five years of my own exposure to March Madness - high levels of exposure - allowing me to see multi-directional dimensions of the positives and negatives of March Madness. Made better or worse by various March Madness Management Styles.

If you are intrigued by the idea of March Madness Management Styles and would like to know more, I invite you to read more at: www.businessandbasketball.com.

One more thing – after the madness is over – I hope you will check out other Business Class resources for managers and business owners. Low cost resources designed to boost morale and productivity. All at: www.businessclassroom.info

www.businessclassinc.com

Jan Bolick is President of Business Class Inc. She has thirty years of sales and management experience and loves sharing it with managers and business owners so that they can get through tough situations, make big goals and celebrate these achievements.

More info on Business Class Resources for Managers and Business Owners free e-zine - "Business Class"If you are not yet a subscriber, you are missing out on a tool that is highly praised by managers and business owners across the country.

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