One would normally not think of a tailgate party for an NFL football game as an appropriate venue for providing inspiration for sage business advice. However, when you bring together some pretty intelligent folks, good food, and a few high-octane beverages, you never know where a conversation might go. This is exactly what happened this past fall when I had the privilege of attending such an event with some friends, where theories of employee engagement and productivity started flowing freely.
The good-natured banter surrounding company cultures, bosses, and corporate politics took a sharp turn after our second round of drinks when my fellow members of Steeler Nation began to reminisce about days when they felt they had done their best professional work. Now, we’re not talking about bar stool buddies critiquing last week’s play calling by the offensive coordinator. These guys are accomplished, corporate professionals with MBAs from Carnegie Mellon University’s illustrious Temper School of Business. So, when these guys talk business, it’s usually best to pay attention.