7 Ways to Find The Next Best Play
Yesterday I had a conversation with Tim Sanders, author of the new book, “DEALSTORMING,” and former Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo!. I’m a basketball enthusiast so we spent some time talking about coach K’s focus on the next best play.
“The next best play is the action that will be taken after the meeting to move the deal to the next level.” Tim Sanders
By “best,” Tim means, “The group has found a potential solution that is head and shoulders above the rest of the options discussed.”
Not winning:
The idea of the next best play comes from coach Mike Krzyzewski – coach K – of the Duke Blue Devils. Coach K focuses his team on the next play – not the past, and not even the bigger picture.
You don’t win by focusing on winning. You win by finding and executing the next best play.
One of the greatest basketball coaches of all time, Coach Wooden said, “I never talked about winning.”
Tim Sanders helps teams find the next best play:
- Stop looking for the big idea.
- Find the sticking point. Figure out why you’re stuck. Use 5 Whys to find the right problems.
- Write a brief. Some aspects include:
- Problem Statement.
- Opportunity and Goal Statement.
- Constraints and Resources.
- Premeeting Assignment.
- Explore assumptions. When someone nominates an idea, ask, “What assumptions are behind that idea?” Don’t pick apart ideas.
- Debate assumptions not implementation.
- Combine ideas. “What ideas might be combined?” Tim said this can be magic.
- Ask, “Is this possible?”
Tim’s book offers a more robust approach than the above seven points to finding the next best play. These rose to the top during our conversation.
What prevents teams from finding the next best play?
How might teams find the next best play?
I don’t often recommend sales books. “DEALSTORMING,” is a leadership – sales book.
Purchase: DEALSTORMING: The Secret Weapon That Can Solve Your Toughest Sales Challenges
What prevents teams from finding the next best play? A couple things come to mind: failing to examine existing systems or procedures, the “we’re good enough” mentality, a team that has not fully developed a culture of trust.
In seems that even as I think about what prevents us, there is a spark of hope in me because I also fully believe we can change and deal with whatever it is that is preventing us – though the journey is not for the faint of heart!
Thanks Carmen. I find your comment both challenging and encouraging. I think leaders believe they can make things better. This means we learn to trust others. 🙂 Thanks for an encouraging comment.
I was a teacher and coached high school boys basketball for 12 years before getting out of the profession so I too, Dan, have a fondness for the game. From my years of coaching, what prevents teams from finding the next best play is what you do in practice (preparation). To make great plays, teams must be prepared for what might happen and that happens by placing them in all kinds of game-like situations in practice. You can’t coach during a game. You might manage the game through time outs and calling plays but what happens on the court and in the moment comes from all the hours of preparation. Trying to coach someone to do something they have never thought of or attempted in a game is a recipe for frustration, lack of action and doubt in the player.
My goal as a basketball coach was to be able to sit down and watch the game, not pace the sideline yelling at the refs or the players. If I had to do that then I had not prepared my team for what is happening. Games were a chance to see what your players could do. If a player couldn’t do something then you have to wait for the next practice to make corrections.
This may be another subject but it bothered me when parents would ask if their kid could get more playing time. I would say your kid gets playing time everyday in practice. The games were the reward for what the kids did in practice and on the their own time working on their skills.
Thanks Shane. What I find profound about your comment is you can’t coach during the game. Coaching is preparation to play. Love it.
Thanks for sharing your story and for your insights.
Love this idea! Coaching is in the preparation … or to quote Louis Pasteur from Dealstorming: “Chance favors the prepared mind.”
This could work well in the Healthcare field where are first priority is the patient–keeping them safe and providing the best care possible. The patient should be at the center of all we do–so the paly should be focused around them. thanks
Thanks Anita. I’m glad you added the health care sector. It’s a place where finding great solutions is truly necessary in today’s tumultuous market.
Thanks for stopping by.
Those first two suggestions: “Stop looking for the big idea. Find the sticking point.” My advice for my students – and anyone seeming to ask was and is always the same!
(1) Understand the real objective and then engage once the most promising direction is identified (you’ll never be able to correctly plan for any big idea; it’s much more effective to assess and refine ongoing efforts).
(2) when you find yourself stuck as to what to address next, suspend planning efforts until you know what the sticking points are (often if not usually, once you’ve identified the sticking points, the next steps will be fairly obvious).
What prevents teams from finding the next best play? They are too individualized, “the team must function like a well oiled machine”, smooth transitions to the ultimate goal.
How might teams find the next best play? Research their errors and refine the focus on the ultimate goals.
I am always in awe of what I can take away from your blog! I am a Perioperative Educational Nurse Coordinator (ENC) at a large university hospital. I know these ideas will become something useful in developing an updated unit preceptor program with our Perianesthesia ENCs & Educational Specialists. I have already sent this to two on the team and it was received with gratitude & appreciation. Think you have just gained another two nurse believers! Thanks so much for sharing your invaluable insights surrounding all-things leadership! Outstanding take-away content!!