In sports, scrimmages are a respite from squat thrusts, windmills or other mundane (but necessary) practice activities. Scrimmaging is as close to a real game as you can get without the hoopla. Dianna Booher, CEO of Booher Research Institute (BooherResearch.com), encourages managers to “scrimmage” at work.
Scrimmaging trains you to think on your feet. You need opportunity to train before getting in the game. Many people fail to follow through with tasks for the simple reason that they’ve had no training. They’re told the mission, handed their equipment, directed to suit up, and sent out to face the project or client without a single scrimmage. Is it any wonder they can’t think on their feet when faced with a tough situation?
Scrimmaging provides a safe structure. Why not do a complete walk-through of the big customer briefing? When scrimmaging, you can perfect a task or process and ask questions — before you lose a customer, blow up a project, or cause a lawsuit.
Scrimmaging builds bench strength. Scrimmaging on stretch assignments provides perfect opportunities to increase your team’s skills
so they’re ready to take on more responsibility. The best leaders make it a priority to build bench strength among the entire team rather than depending on one or two star players.
