Labels in Football and Software Business

It's been a tough year of football in my neck of the woods. As an IU alum, its painful to watch the slow progress the football team is making this year with its 1-9 record. There have been some games against opponents in lesser known divisions that have made a mockery of the team this year. But that is in some respects expected from a school that has never had a strong football program. What truly stings this year is that the Indianapolis Colts, without Peyton Manning, have gone 0 and 9 so far this year. From a team that has hadn't had a losing season in over a decade, its a stinging blow.

But when you break down the Indianapolis Colts, in hindsight, it becomes obvious that without their lynch-pin player, the system falls apart. Over the last decade, so much emphasis of the Colts has been placed on Manning. Manning of course is a stellar player, but he's just one player on the team. From a morale and recruitment standpoint, a stellar player can inhibit recruitment in other areas. If you describe your team as a power offense, it will be tough to recruit the best defensive players in the game, the best special  teams players, and the best running backs.

I've seen this happen in businesses too. A company that makes and sells software or hardware might change its language and begin to call itself a 'Services' company. This has the effect of preventing recruiters from bringing in the best and brightest developers or hardware engineers, as its clear from the language that the companies focus and emphasis is on the Services department. Likewise, its tough to hold onto the best and brightest developers and engineers as they are no longer appreciated to the level they once were.

In business, as in sports, its dangerous to become labeled. Any labeling has to be done consciously and with the realization that there will be negative consequences to the other groups in the organization. In the case of the Colts, This decision seems intentional. Over the years, its been discussed that the Colts defense is built to be light and play with a lead, with the hope that Manning and the offense can build up a quick lead and force the opponents to pass the ball. This has worked well for the Colts over the years, but remove the key player, Manning, and the system collapses in on itself. The same thing can happen to a business though. If the emphasis is placed on one department that implodes due to anymore of reasons (such as internal politics, turnover, a failed project, etc.), the other departments may be too weak to carry the additional burden.