The Positive and Negative Impact of a Uniform

Now you would think the highly fought contests across most games would be what I enjoyed the most.

But the best part was instead seeing players from every team show Netball Australia that their new inclusive uniform policy was long overdue.

And I believe this significant change in policy provides three valuable business lessons to help you build a high performing team.

So do you have any outdated and/or inflexible policies which are having a negative impact on your team, your customers and your business?

LESSON 2: One Size Doesn't Fit All

The variety of options players chose clearly demonstrates that one size doesn't fit all. There wasn't one team who had everyone in the same uniform choice so players were definitely voting with their feet.

And as someone who had to wear shorts when I played in a mixed team otherwise we would've been penalised for uniform infringements, I know the negative impact it had on me.

I didn't play at my best because I didn't feel like a happy netballer and I quit the team at the end of the season simply because of this reason, not because I didn't like my teammates.

Now think about your small business.

Your job is to ensure each and every one of your team has the tools they need to work at their best for your small business.

Not only is this providing them with documented systems and training so they know how to do their job; but also understanding their different learning and work styles, and their optimum working environment so they're a happy and productive employee.

However, too often I see a 'once size fits all' approach to managing a team ie making everyone follow the same rules.

Whilst this can seem the logical and best way to go, we need systems, rules and approaches to work at least 80% of the time for everyone with a slight tweak to maximise an individual's performance.

For example, I need noise to work at my best (usually music) and in my past life as an employee, I was forced to work in an environment of silence rather than letting me wear headphones. This had a negative effect on my productivity, let alone the impact on my mental health and wellbeing.

So are you providing opportunities for your team to work at their best or are you hindering their performance with a 'one size fits all' approach?

LESSON 3: You Can't Be What You Can't See

Have a look at the Aussie Diamonds team photo I've showcased with this blog.

Now please tell me who's the coach?

Unless you know it's Stacey Marinkovich (in the white jacket closest to the players), you'd probably believe it's the gentleman on the end in the tracksuit.

Why?

Because he looks the part of a coach.

Sporting coaches at grassroots level wear the team shirt or tracksuit so parents and players immediately know who's leading the team.

And yet in many sports including netball, someone's made a decision (and an incorrect one in my opinion) to stop this tradition and turn the coach's uniform into something you'd wear in a corporate office.

And to make matters worse, as you can see in this photo, our coaches aren't even wearing a uniform in our green and gold colours! Instead, they're in black and white and I can tell you, that's the New Zealand Silver Ferns colours so what the ???

The only Suncorp Netball Coach in 2022 who bucked this trend or requirement was Dan Ryan who coaches the West Coast Fever team, and guess what? He's now a premiership coach and whilst a lot of that will be because of his netball brain and tactics, it's also because he looks the part of a netball coach and not an administrator.

So as the leader and coach of your small business, are you looking the part in the colours/uniform you wear and the type of dress code you embrace?

Now I'm not saying you have to change from wearing casual clothes to a more corporate look – quite the opposite in fact.

I want you and your team to wear clothes which you're comfortable in and make you feel good so you can work at your best; AND reflect the right business branding and image you want portrayed to your team and your customers.