Fit In...Then Stand Out
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People want to stand out. But they don’t want to do it alone.
Humans are wired this way. Being part of a tribe was an evolutionary advantage- and it still is. Whether it be a shared nationality, economic system, or religion, most humans know they are better off as part of a group.
But within that group, standing out is also a plus. Being a leader among one’s peer group brings fulfillment and prestige.
And nowhere is this more obvious than sports.
Fitting In
The Team Dynamic
Whether for an athlete, a coach, or a part of the front office, the team dynamic creates a bond that is second is to none.
Coaches and athletes spend season after season competing, growing, and overcoming obstacles (the major obstacle being others doing the same). It should be no surprise to see relationships turn from coworker → friend → family.
And, while it likely isn’t thought of as much, the same holds true for those in the front office. Whether part of operations or R&D, working anywhere in sports attracts that same competitiveness…and therefore breeds those same deep connections.
Triumphing over others in the .01% of their field (and yes, this holds just as true for the front office) is just plain hard.
If you don’t have a group, it is damn near impossible.
The “Like Me” Dynamic
Outside of the team dynamic, athletes, coaches, and front office personnel also gain a tribe with those “like them”.
Despite what some fans may want, it should not be a surprise that Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are friendly. Nor should it be confusing why NBA starts want to “team up”, or why Travis Kelce, Greg Olsen, and George Kittle launched Tight End U.
In each case, the world’s best are doing what humans have always done- looking to be part of a tribe.
And this is true throughout sports. Highly competitive coaches, front office execs, R&D analysts and more are attracted to others with shared interests and experiences.
While the team dynamic helps drive organizational success, the “like me” dynamic enables career development, personal growth, and fulfillment.
Standing Out
Once someone finds their group, the next step is standing out within it.
Patrick Mahomes may love being part of the Chiefs, but he also likely wants to the team’s leader.
And he may value the relationships he built with other NFL quarterbacks, but he also enjoys being considered the league’s best.
Surprise surprise, this duality occurs off the field as well.
It is safe to assume any Director of R&D not only loves the tribe they work with, but also wants to stand out as a leader that drives innovation for 1) their club and 2) their industry.
Tools to Fit In
So what does this mean for sports tech companies like Reboot?
It means we need to help people fit in….while also giving them the tools to stand out.
Success- on both a team and individual level- is maximized when the organization acts as one group with a common goal.
That is why when we talk with potential partners, we always look to get coaches, data scientists, biomechanists, and more on board.
At the same time, we hope to welcome as many individuals as possible into a new “like me” group- a group that believes the Future is How.
There is a large and growing constituency that:
Knows the best way to predict future outcomes, as well as the best way to develop talent, is to go as early into the process as possible.
Puts players first, and individualizes their training to them, not a bucket of people kind of like them.
Constantly explores new ways to innovate and gain an edge.
We want to play a big role in giving this group power. Because this is the future of player development, and the future of building winning organizations.
But for us, Reports as a Service is just step 1.
Tools To Stand Out
We operate in a world full of competitors. People don’t just want to fit in among other industry leaders…they want to stand out.
They need to stand out.
Winning is, by definition, standing out.
That is why we emphasize delivering tools for innovation. It is why we look to empower the tremendous talent within organizations It is why we pound the table for Biomechanics as a Service.
Good coaches understand biomechanics. Great ones take in everything- movement data, outcome data, their relationship with the athlete, their intuition and more- to build world class development plans.
Good data scientists find correlations. Great ones leverage unique data sets, determine causation, and present them to teammates to drive change.
And good biomechanists bucket joint angles that, on average, are related to velocity or bat speed. But great ones work with the data team and coaches to spur new research- driving both the team and the industry forward.
And that is what we want our tools to be. A way to fit in today. And, more importantly, a way to stand out tomorrow.