Volume 2 // Issue 6
THE MANAGEMENT ISSUE 1
2
FIELD NOTES Lately, I have noticed that, for whatever reason, I’m meeting a lot of new people. Inevitably, they ask me what my profession is. Have you ever had this moment? Maybe while taxiing on the tarmac? Those working in the sports tourism industry know how hard it is to answer this question. For example, we do not work in one department, the accounting department. A true sports tourism professional must be skilled in budgeting, accounting, marketing, advertising, event planning, technical aspects of each sport, and possess many other business attributes…including management, the theme of this issue. These skills make us exceptionally well-rounded as business professionals. The usual response from someone you have just met is: “Wow, what an amazing job!” And of course, it is, but not because we are attending an endless amount of athletic events as a VIP, which most of these individuals seem to think. I’m thrilled to have a career that continually taps into my creative passions. But the reality is that working as I do, wearing many hats, involves much time spent indoors. Therefore, I can find myself wrestling with the same work-life balance challenges that most of the workforce experiences. Our society stresses and demands productivity. Long hours, early morning, late nights, the threat of burnout, and unused vacation time have tormented sports tourism organizations for decades. Unfortunately, the pandemic has made the problem worse. We all thought work from home flexibility would turn the tide; however, we work more hours on average than before. There is no separation between work time and personal time with offices now in our homes. So, how do we, as an industry, find ways to avoid burnout, get moving, and create a better work-life balance? I, personally, am taking on this challenge as a goal in 2022 specific to time management. Are you? We hope you enjoy The Management Issue!
Matt Dunn
3
6
How to Support First Time Managers
10 Crafting Your 2022 Daily Routine 14 New Years Goals 18 Strong & Wise 22 8 Limits to Attaining Financial Freedom 26 Project Management Platforms 31 5 Laws of Selling 35 Industry Confidential
4
5
6
how to support first time managers Becoming a first-time manager can be overwhelming. Creating team support can be crutial for success. How does your organization define the purpose of a manager? Many ambitious employees, year after year, seek a career path within their organization. Once they have successfully climbed the ladder, the learning curve monster comes out to play. First-time managers switch from being graded on day-today skills like project management, event planning, sales, analytics to being graded on a different set of skills such as communication, key performance indicators, relationship building, motivation. Additionally, upper-level management must display a “lead by example” professionalism and impeccable communication style. Does your organization have a policy that helps energize and support first-time managers better? If not, here is a bit of guidance. 1. Be empathetic and set the standard for your team. Setting up your team for success is the role of a director. Providing a positive, productive, and cooperative standard for those who report to you and those around you should be top of mind daily. Additionally, we all work for someone. So, you
must also be accountable for your direct reports. When asked questions or being challenged, you can in no way become defensive in nature, for if you do, your team will believe that defensive behavior is acceptable. Take appropriate steps to learn and understand how and why your team works the way they do based on personal characteristics. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and usually, mindset and background create an individual’s skill set. Therefore, understanding how and why a person performs tasks in a particular order or at what step a person can pick up a new skill is essential to better function as a team and issue responsibilities. This understanding will enable you to provide your team with what they need to succeed appropriately. Having the empathy to seek out and understand these individual skill sets is necessary. 2. Not everything requires an immediate solution. You do not always have to immediately answer every conflict or question your team members approach you with, particularly if you are managing
7
a large team. If a team member approaches you and they are upset over a particular scenario, whether you are expecting the occurrence or not, respond with the following statement or something similar: ”That’s curious. Allow me to think about it for a bit and get back to you.” Provide the employee with an empathetic takeaway and the comfort that you will act. Doing so is an entirely appropriate response and allows you to analyze the situation from several angles, seek advice, and provide the team member with a professional approach moving forward. Being thorough and considerate will show your team your ability to be effective. 3. Be honest and direct. Speaking of skills, as a manager of talent, providing your employees with helpful feedback is a skill every leader must master. Doing so never comes easy initially, and it takes repetition to appropriately inform people of the need for improved work performance without offending them. But it is vital to use the opportunity as a teachable moment to improve. Many first-time managers may think their new title will result in respect from employees. It does not. Employees will respond to leaders that have a combination of empathy and confidence. Your team needs to witness your commitment to the organization’s success, your willingness to provide them with the tools they need and know that your constructive criticism comes from a good place. 4. Budget for continuing education. A cornerstone of each budget process should be the inclusion of an investment in the growth of its personnel. Training and continuing education can revitalize your managers if done correctly and without becoming a burden. 8
Solid leadership will result in scalable success quarter over quarter, year over year. Therefore, each organization should prioritize providing managers, especially first-time managers, a path toward the overall vision and how to get there based on departmental responsibilities. This should include goal setting, new hire onboarding, the development of workflows and planning, and ongoing performance reviews. Also, vital to the success of every sports tourism effort is training on how they should properly communicate with their direct reports. Thus, if you are a first-time manager, embrace the task of proactively seeking responses to these topics and questions, both internally and externally. Seek out colleagues, maybe someone that has recently been promoted. Ask them to grab a cup of coffee or meet for happy hour and ask them about their experiences and what methods have worked. Read up on management trends from publications, journals, blogs, and newsletters. Take charge by investing in yourself so that you, and your team, can become successful.
9
Crafting your 2022
How will you spend your time and focus in 2022? No matter your goals and aspirations, the most important one should be to become happier in 2022. Two tears dealing with the coronavirus pandemic have been challenging for us all in one way or another. Right about the time when things began looking up, a new coronavirus variant arrived to change the course of our holiday plans. With all we are facing in the world, and mainly if you are dealing with losing a job, a change in relationship, or even the loss of a loved one, working on your mental awareness and happiness may very well be your last thought. Though, it should be the first. The benefits of happiness are endless. Those that make a conscious effort to maintain satisfaction are more successful, build better relationships, volunteer, are responsible, donate to worthy causes, and on and on. To sum it up, those that are happy positively contribute to society. No matter your goals and objectives for 2022, happiness should be a priority on the list. How can you make this so? Well, there are endless answers, but let us focus on our ability to make significant changes to our daily routines. With all our daily obligations, we should mix in a bit of joy and take time to experience what provides us with a bit of pleasure. Whether riding a bike enjoying a coffee or tea, these small pleasures individually are insignificant, but collectively can become a mood changer with a daily routine. Below are six that we invite you to create a happiness list catered to you. 10
1. Customize your morning routine.
4. Dive into a good book.
Our most significant piece of advice is to ease yourself into your day. If a morning routine is rushed, you will miss a step, forget something, and create unnecessary stress. Whether you are getting kids or family members ready for the day can also make things complicated. More reason for finding a few small joys that fit into your routine, even if waking up 15 minutes earlier helps you do so. Set yourself up with an environment that allows you to drink a cup of coffee or tea without being rushed. Enjoy a few minutes to be in the moment and enjoy the small pleasure of your first beverage of the day.
Reading supports many benefits, including longevity, health, and mental acuity. Select a book that will pique your interest, a topic you will truly enjoy. The type of subject you look forward to spending time on and are bummed to stop reading. Whether history, true crime, science fiction, or even a business or self-help read, make sure it brings you joy.
2. Never forget your loved ones. Depression and loneliness are bad for your soul, mindset, and well-being. Taking the opportunity to spend time with a loved one, or at least communicating with someone you care about, is a powerful method to acquire happiness. If everyone in your house is running in different directions each day, so much so that you barely see each other, or you live alone, take the time to contact a loved one every day. Whether by phone call, text message, or a FaceTime conversation. If you connect with loved ones daily, your life will be filled with joy. 3. Laugh out loud. What can be better for your spirits than laughter? Every day, each of us should experience a moment, conversation, or even a video that makes us laugh out loud. If you are struggling to find these moments, reach out to friends or family members and ask them to send funny jokes or Facebook and YouTube videos your way. Or try asking a friend to meet up after work for happy hour. Thirty minutes and one beverage will not send your day into a tailspin. The social environment it will create could be what makes your day.
5. Go outside . Considering the winter months, not all locations allow for spending quality time outdoors, but if you can, do so. Spending time outside, getting outdoors, whether taking a walk, going for a run, biking or just spending time on your front porch can provide a bit of pleasure for most people. Even if only for fifteen minutes before heading back to what awaits you next. Experiencing nature clears the mind, widens our perspective, and helps us stay grounded. 6. Do nothing. We live in a world of connectivity that creates an “always-on” environment and mindset. Having some downtime will allow your brain to relax and possibly give you the clarity to work through feelings and problems you may be facing. More importantly, we need these moments to clear our minds, rest, and recharge. We are so much more productive after these breaks. Therefore, find joy with inactivity, be lazy for a bit in a way that works for you, and clear your head. You will be ready to face your tasks more positively afterward. Face it; you deserve it.
11
Just because you might be able to play anywhere doesn't mean you should. Bring your next sporting event to Pensacola for the facilities and hospitality. Stay for its historic culture, unique adventures, and award-winning sugar-white beaches.
IT'S NOT IF YOU WIN OR LOSE, IT'S WHERE YOU PLAY PensacolaSports.org THE GAME
12
13
14
15
Outsiders
WELCOME
See the stories: PureFlorida.com/play 16
ELEVATE.
Introducing the Sports Tourism Learning Institute, the new sports events and tourism education engine to transform, enrich and power your career. learn.sportseta.org
STLI is a Sports ETA property
17
Strong & Wise 6 tips to help you develop your leadership presence now and enhance your career
18
Those timid, docile, or even fearful in business settings will have a tough time climbing an organizational hierarchy or earning a seat at a boardroom table. These adjectives are not the characteristics of someone strong, wise, or commanding leadership. The adjectives, strength, composure, and presence, however... Those who have worked for organizations with a sense of culture and history have experienced leadership firsthand. What, who, and examples of how to get it. These experiences have led to several observations. Leadership presence is a blend of skills that encompass perspective, communication, technical competencies, and temperament that encourage a sense of trust in a leader’s outlook and decision-making. If you are looking to move up the ladder, a leadership presence is an essential set of attributes needed to develop, influence, and achieve success. You will often feel a sense of who is in charge and will be running a meeting as you walk into a room before the conference even begins. That sense you are feeling IS leadership presence. It can be complicated when mentoring people on building their leadership presence. While similar characteristics make a notable executive, everyone has their unique persona and point of view. Interestingly, this approach is that developing these skills is not only for those in leadership positions. Every one of us can improve upon each of them now. Realistically, creating a solid leadership presence may be what separates you from getting noticed and selected for future opportunities.
19
Here are six basic routines to focus on developing your leadership presence: 1. Dress for success. Upper management within your company most likely dress with a bit of formality. If they know it or not, they set the standard for their colleagues and employees. Paying attention to these trends and mimicking them is a jumping-off point. Though, it is critical to implement your own sense of style. 2. Stop and take notice. Upon entering a meeting room, stop and scan the room before looking rushed heading into the door and grabbing a chair. Take inventory on who is in the room and intentionally choose your seat. It may just be next to the person who will promote or hire you next. 3. Sit up straight and tall. Concentrate on projecting your voice across the room without shouting. If you are a soft talker, making it challenging for everyone to hear, you may be asked to speak up. In specific settings, this can be embarrassing. It also destroys how confident you feel in the point you are making. Body language influences what others think and how secure we feel.
20
4. Respectfully express your opinion. Those in leadership positions will speak up on important topics when the opportunity presents itself. You should do the same. If your style is to put some thought into an issue first, not to worry, form your opinion, and then contribute. However, be sure to conduct a bit of research ahead of time so that your views are productive and ready for dialogue. 5. Ask thought-provoking questions. Having a reputation for asking compelling questions on how an issue will, or could, change the course of action for clients, facility operators, colleagues, vendors, sponsors, etc., will help you troubleshoot and forecast issues about essential topics. Furthermore, you will also be noticed for having the interests of critical stakeholders top of mind. 6. Stop Using qualifying statements. Examples are, “I think...” or “You may have discussed this already but... .” Overusing certain qualifiers can make a statement sound borderline sluggish or lazy. If you are ambitious and seek a promotion at your organization, think about your characteristics, and start building your leadership presence. Having a leadership presence will be a massive advantage in the future.
21
8 Limits to Attaining Financial Freedom We all have what it takes to achieve financial freedom. Creating revenue and increasing income can be a goal in the new year, similar to dropping the holiday weight, learning another language, or scoring under 80 at golf. Though, like all things in life, financial freedom does not come easy. If you wish to improve your economic conditions, you must make significant daily changes and sacrifices. Below are eight limits to attaining the freedom we all seek. Limiting yourself to saving. Saving and investing should always be valued, though the key to increasing your net worth is to focus on earning. Concentrating only on a lifestyle of living frugal and cutting out coupons may force you to miss significant opportunities. Even in a cash crunch, deny thrifty thinking and target your energy on the big picture, increasing your income. Stable pay. Most Americans prefer to receive a steady, regular paycheck. While the wealthy prefer to be compensated by a results driven mindset. These individuals are usually self-employed. There are certainly highly skilled and re22
spected employees who perform at a high-level year in and year out. Keep in mind that this is the slowest method to build wealth. All the while, marketed as the safest method. Those with self-employment experience know that it is the swiftest method to achieving wealth. Casual deadlines. You have heard the phrase, “money does not grow on trees.” To create increased revenue, you must establish goals and create a plan that includes solid deadlines. Allowing flexible deadlines or not focusing on achieving deadlines decreases productivity. Concentrate on achieving one key goal at a time with passion. And be sure to set a deadline for which to complete it. This is how successful, self-employed individuals build wealth. Purchasing items above your means. We have all been there. We cannot afford to
buy an item and use credit to make it happen. In the end, it costs more money to purchase the item due to interest fees, or maybe even late payments. Additionally, because some earn so little, they can get caught up in spending all they make just to exist. Instead of just breaking even, put some thought into whether you can create several sources of income. Additionally, there is something to be said for the philosophy of paying yourself first before all other bills are paid. So rather than spinning your wheels on spending all that you earn while maybe saving a bit at a time, figure out the right path on how to make more, invest after paying yourself first, and then use the rest how you see fit. Entertainment expenses that add up. Would you instead seek education or entertainment? We all enjoy a rainy weekend binge-watching a show on Netflix. 23
However, continuing education long after wrapping up your final days in a classroom brings out the power of lifelong learning. Successful individuals read ferociously and value learning how to improve their lives. Those that do not have a mindset of continuing education spend their free time on entertainment only. Find the right balance. Toxic people. In today’s “cancel culture” world, we experience numerous examples of toxic people and relationships. Personally and professionally, who you opt to involve yourself with matters significantly in many ways, including your earning potential. Emotional intelligence certainly comes into play, but we absorb the thoughts and ideas of those with whom we associate. Exposure to more successful people will broaden your thinking and help drive your income .
Comfort. Most of us want to seek and be comfortable. On the other hand, successful individuals seek, enjoy, and thrive on uncertainty. Respected strategists learn quickly that achieving financial freedom is difficult to navigate. Becoming too comfortable will likely derail the efficiency of those seeking unlimited success. The profitable adapt to being comfortable while operating in a position of constant uncertainty. Staying in your comfort zone. Great professionals and entrepreneurs can operate in a state where fear does not exist. Any idea can become possible when you can eliminate fear from your daily thought process. These individuals can take what may seem like a nutty idea to most and chart a course toward accomplishment. To thrive in this existence, you have to leave your comfort zone behind.
VisitTucson.org/Sports
520.770.2129
inning team ready to Experience an award-w the perfect facility. match your event with Variety of Venues
+
Convenient Travel
+
Off the Field Fun
Contact Luchie Javelosa LJavelosa@VisitTucson.org She can help you change your game.
24
A no-cost, technology suite that aims to evolve the management of youth and amateur sports events.
Digtial Registration
Fully integrated with hotels, schedules, scoring, team tracking and merch.
Hotels/Housing
Exclusive discounted hotel inventory with full customer support.
Local integration
Connect with the hosting city for automated financial impact tracking/reporting.
Scheduling & Scoring
Integrated directly with registration, managing your schedules have never been so easy.
Love your sport, and we’ll help with the rest
eventconnect.io
25
project management platForms for 2022 No matter where your team is working from, project management software will keep everyone coordinated 26
For many organizations, working remotely has now become the norm. We have the pandemic to thank for that. Those who have fully embraced working from home have additional obstacles to surpass when working virtually. In the event planning world, the name of the game is “dot the “i’s” and cross the “t’s.” So, when working with a team in separate locations, having a robust project management system can support cooperation between internal and external members and help streamline processes. Some project management specialists swear by them, and event planners can make all the difference in hosting a successful event or not. These software programs can manage client and internal projects, collaborations, schedules, and repeat tasks like invoicing, account setup, and events. Your co-workers and clients will appreciate project management tools that produce an organization. 27
Cost - The Basic plan is complimentary. Other plans vary from $11 to $25 per month, per user. Asana is a fan favorite among many athletic event planning professionals. This project management tool provides task views that are customizable that will in turn help its users stay organized in the manner that works best for each individual. You can prefer to view your schedule as a calendar, board, or timeline. The tool’s automation elements reduce monotonous manual tasks so you can streamline your workflows. Also, it can integrate with an impressive number of other program tools such as Salesforce, Microsoft products, Adobe Creative Cloud, Chrome, Slack, Dropbox, and more.
Cost – Beginning at $100 per month, per organization. Likely the most popular among creatives, many companies put their full weight behind Basecamp. The program’s toolkit has a “one stop shop” feel that consists of individual and project team to-do lists, scheduling, group chats, messaging, and document filing, among others. All the apps you work with, including messaging, are blended into one accessible dashboard for easy management. To further support work-life balance, Basecamp provides the option to set their office hours and availability by their time zone. This results in automatic notifications when off the clock.
28
Cost – Zero for the introductory plan; other plans vary between $5 to $18 per month, per user. Trello is another option with a great reputation. The platform’s functionality exists from cards and lists. Though metrics, tasks, assignments, scheduling, and timeline features exist to keep you and your co-workers organized. Trello is also known for having platform integration with other common tech companies such as Squarespace and Google. Project management tools can enhance the organization of your operation and boost your team toward peak effectiveness, usefulness, and cooperation.
Cost - Free plans available; other plans vary between $9 - $24 per month per user Wrike is a powerful tool for teams, one that ranks highly as both collaboration software and project management software. Wrike, now owned by Citrix, started out as an online platform for team collaboration, work management, and project management, and it continues to grow those areas while also adding related features. The app has since added new work intelligence features that can, for example, predict when a project is at risk of falling behind and call attention to possible causes. While Wrike is on the expensive side, it’s easier to set up and start using than many other comparable project management apps.
29
ATHLETIC FACILITIES DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE
EASY ACCESS WITH REGIONAL AIRPORT
500K
TOTAL INDOOR SPACE
OVER 5,000+ HOTEL ROOMS & SUITES
HOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA & SANTA FE COLLEGE
42
200+ LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED RESTAURANTS UNIQUE LOCAL SHOPPING
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MOTORSPORTS RACEWAY
16 FIELD STATE-OF-THE-ART BASEBALL/SOFTBALL COMPLEX
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ARCHERY TRAINING & COMPETITION CENTER
352-338-9300 · GAINESVILLESPORTSCOMMISSION.COM 30
MULTI - SPORT FIELDS
SMALL TOWN WITH BIG AMENITIES
GAINESVILLE & ALACHUA
COUNTY, FL
31
32
Champions PLAY PLAY WHERE
For more information or to arrange a site visit call 561-233-3174 or visit PalmBeachSports.com The Palm Beaches is home to some of the nation’s premier sporting facilities and events. Discover a variety of high-quality sports venues, while being swept away by warm breezes and world-renowned accommodations. All this in the tropical paradise called The Palm Beaches.
Discover natural peace and your perfect battleground.
With top-notch facilities and expert support staff, Tallahassee is the perfect destination to host your next athletic event. In-between competitions, dine at world-class restaurants, take in some live music or explore one of our many local adventures.
VisitTallahasseeSports.com
33
Industry Confidencial Check in every issue for the unfiltered thoughts of our guest writers and contributors as they discuss the hottest topics in sports tourism. Join the conversation by tweeting us: @pushsports In this issue, our guest writer discusses the subject of 2022 management trends.
34
Efficient leadership is complicated. Sinking into bad habits and developing a toxic work environment can be hard to prevent. Adapting to delegate and trust a team are the cornerstones of attaining efficient leadership. Without these foundational pieces, managers can trap themselves in scenarios of micromanagement. More and more, we continue to see micromanagement exist and burnout employees. We as an industry need to continue developing our management skills around empowerment and delegation. Managers that do not delegate efficiently inadvertently tend to micromanage. Those that delegate with skill allows their employees to sharpen their skillset. You can take baby steps to accomplish this. Over time, trusting your more ambitious employees will motivate them to perform well and help build a more cooperative daily work environment. Setting clear expectations from the beginning can position your employees for success. The more direct you are about the vision, the easier it will be for your team to grasp and execute. We can fall into the micromanaging trap as we sometimes believe we are the best to accomplish the end game. The manager often performs the tasks because they have delegated your desired outcome, not how to achieve it. Dive into the company culture. Successful, followed leaders focus their attention on managing corporate culture more than managing their employees. Micromanagement can be eliminated if an organization dives into its culture. If you are genuinely emphasizing your organization’s values, you will possess little time to micromanage your team’s actions. When employees witness the actions taken by upper management to build influential company culture, they are more optimistic about their work and profession and motivated to accomplish their various assignments. Transfer responsibility. Winning the micromanagement battle is hard, especially reassigning the typical duties and tasks you would perform. Placing trust in a specific employee or department with additional responsibilities and tasks will lead to more cooperation and creativity as they rise to the occasion. Once providing the overall outline, project lifecycle, strategies, and pitfalls from the get-go, step back and allow your team to perform. Be available for questions, provide context, and give insight and feedback when sought out, but remember to aim for leadership rather than managing. Showcase trust. Lack of trust is the leading cause of a leader who micromanages. We can all speculate on where a manager’s lack of confidence originates. Creating an atmosphere of trust at your organization will energize your employees to become self-sufficient and enhance growth. Try new methods of placing trust on your team, as this is a great, ongoing way to challenge yourself as a leader to delegate effectively. You likely hired them and did so for a reason, so allow them to perform in a way you were confident they could at the time you hired them.
35
36
