With the National Football League season upon us, football fever is back in full swing, which marks the end of summer. NFL teams and many large corporations have a lot in common: Summer is more of a slow period, with fall typically experiencing a rise in activity. The preseason is a time when NFL coaches try out new players and different tactics they may want to use during the year, while CEOs use the fall as an opportunity to get their staff back up to speed. For both coaches and CEOs, one of the main tasks is shaking off the summer cobwebs and preparing for operations to kick up a notch or two. Below are a few ways CEOs can improve their leadership and strategic planning skills after the dog days of summer.

Give new employees an opportunity to learn
There are few NFL rookies who are able to make an impact as soon as they are handed a playbook and a jersey. The same goes for new staff who are often hit with a whirlwind of knowledge at once. CEOs need to give their new hires an opportunity to learn with the proper training and coaching methods, similar to how NFL coaches use training camp and the preseason. For example, if a company uses a complex business valuation software, CEOs must implement training opportunities into their strategic plan to make sure all employees are brought up to speed.

Present employees with new challenges
In the NFL players progress at their own speed; some will be ready to make a big contribution in their first year, while others need a few seasons to reach their full potential. CEOs can take a lesson from how NFL coaches give players a chance to develop, then allow them the opportunity to produce on the field. Employees who have shown the leadership skills and aptitude to succeed at their job may deserve a larger role within the firm, whether it be during strategic planning or the business projection process.

Make the most of staff
Players survive in the NFL by finding their niche and excelling in it. This is exactly what CEOs should encourage in their staff. Every employee has different professional skills that make them an asset to their firm. For example, certain NFL players are able to make the team purely because they excel on special teams, which can take the field only 10 to 12 times per game. By evaluating employees and seeing the best ways they can impact the company, CEOs may able to maximize the potential of their staff.

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