Working Off the Ball: An Analogy to Influence Without Power

In the world of sports, particularly in team sports like soccer, basketball, and rugby, much of the game is played “off the ball.” This concept refers to the actions and movements players make when they don’t have possession of the ball but are still actively contributing to the team’s strategy and success. The same principle applies to leadership within organizations: influencing without formal power. This article explores the analogy between working off the ball in sports and exerting influence without authority in a professional setting.

Understanding Off-the-Ball Work

In sports, working off the ball involves positioning, creating space, setting screens, and making runs that may not immediately lead to scoring but are crucial for the team’s overall performance. Players who excel at this are often unsung heroes, as their contributions enable others to shine. Similarly, in leadership, influence without formal authority involves actions that may not be immediately visible but significantly impact the organization’s success.

The Importance of Off-the-Ball Work in Leadership

Creating Opportunities:

• In Sports: Players create scoring opportunities by drawing defenders away, making intelligent runs, or setting screens.
• In Leadership: Influencers create opportunities by identifying and fostering talent, facilitating collaboration, and…