#TheGroundFloor is thrilled to welcome guest contributor, Tyler Pepe, for this week’s edition.

Tyler Pepe is a Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at the start-up nonprofit, My New Summer. Before COVID-19 impacted the world and changed his plans, Tyler was completing graduate work in Organizational Behavior and Development at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in Israel. While abroad Tyler served as Head Coach and Captain of the undefeated Herzliya Stars in the inaugural season of the Israel Lacrosse League. Prior to this Tyler spent 5 years as a Regional Director at BBYO.

I am very excited to welcome Tyler to #TheGroundFloor as he talks about winning at work

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Coaching is big buzz word in the business world. Admit it- we all hear it, we all see it, we’re all somewhat perplexed by it. There are career coaches, managers, mentors, independent consultants, gurus, and a hundred other names for the advice givers in the corporate space. The professional coaching industry is massive, and there is no question that individuals benefit from it. The slight problem I have is that most of these people aren’t coaches, at least not in the classical sense. I’m talking about coaching in team sports, and how I bring lessons to the workplace from the field.

My time as a high school lacrosse coach mixed with my role as a Jewish community professional at BBYO was (long story short) how I ended up working for the Israel Lacrosse Association developing a domestic men’s club league in the tiny country…until the global pandemic forced me back to the US and forced all of us to the proverbial sidelines. That’s how I reconnected with friend, former BBYO colleague and former college lacrosse player, Andrew Exler, as he set out to create My New Summer.

Every day I use my coaching background in my new role with My New Summer, where I went from Head Coach to COO in a matter of weeks. Here is how I use the coach’s mindset before, during, and after winning in the workplace

Before- Scout Relentlessly

A. Scout yourself. Scouting reports are how coaches communicate to their players about their opponents’ strengths and preferences. The most important scouting report a coach can assemble is the one about their own team. No detail is too insignificant. Get everyone on the same page. Take a fun personality quiz or a professional strengths assessment with your team and share your results together. Understand where you thrive and where you are uncomfortable— later on, it will be easier to ask for help if you understand and admit your flaws.

B. Know what you are up against. Take a moment to recognize the threats and obstacles ahead of you, then determine what you can and cannot control. If an opponent is stronger or faster, understand the benefits that strength and speed afford them, and what you could do to negate those benefits. In the workplace, make sure your mission and goals are stated and public. Don’t scare, prepare- you’ll make better decisions if you expect what’s coming.  

C. Borrow and compliment. Simply put- if you see someone else do something you like, add it to your own playbook by asking them to teach you how they do it, then give them credit. This validates the hard work of your peers, keeps you efficient, and brings up team morale.

During- Have a Strategy, Follow It

A. Trust your research- if you’ve done it well, that is. The real point is that not everything is going to go perfectly, and that shouldn’t throw you off your game. Don’t panic when missteps are small and early. Set your strategy when you are thinking calmly and clearly and have confidence that you will be successful if you stick to it. 

B. Love your backup plans. Don’t let this seem like contradictory advice from what you just read about sticking to your strategy- a plan B (or C) is part of any great strategy. Prepare for the what-if scenarios, and find reasons to like all of your what-if solutions. Attitude is contagious, and in trying times yours will be key. If something you tried didn’t work, be in a position to say “good, I was ready for that, here’s what comes next.”

C. There are no ‘Secret Weapons’. I think this is a common sports-movie stereotype, where somehow in the last game of the season we dramatically find out which character was special all along. Don’t hide your talent, and don’t wait to try out your new ideas. Surround yourself with great people, find ways to put their skills on display, and remember that everyone is exceptional at something.

After- Make Success Permanent

A. Wins get diagnosed, then celebrated. Debriefing success is the best way to capture how it happens. When something goes right, stop to celebrate it, and make everyone understand how it contributed to team success. Appreciate that wins don’t come by accident, then congratulate the team on a job well done.

B. Imagine success as failure. Prepare the team, follow the strategy, find success, and pretend you failed. Why? Because there’s going to be a next time and you want to keep your edge. Success has a way of making us complacent and taking away our hunger. In sports, it’s the reason why undefeated teams lose in the playoffs. In the workplace, it’s the reason overperformers start to underachieve over time.

C. Practice gratitude.  It’s a blessing to be able to work, to earn a living, to have colleagues, and to be a part of a team. If you are proud of what you are creating don’t be shy about saying so. If you recognize the hard work of another, tell them. Think of how powerful it felt at a time where you were recognized for your efforts, seize that power and unleash it on your team. Thank the equipment manager, the intern, the referee, the custodian, your rivals, and your co-workers. Be a good sport and a good teammate!

From me to you, that’s how a coach’s mentality drives me at work. If you’re a coach, athlete, sports fan, or fan of any of what I shared above- let’s connect!

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Thank you, Tyler, for being a guest contributor for #TheGroundFloor!

I am always looking to welcoming guest contributors to #TheGroundFloor! If you are interested in writing or have a specific topic you’d like discussed, please contact me!

- Andrew