严立的生活离不开美式橄榄球。作为一名借助美式橄榄球为顶尖人才提供管理培训的企业培训师，他说大约花了8000多个小时来观看、研究自己热爱的美式橄榄球。然而99%的中国人对这项运动几乎不怎么了解，也不感兴趣。

Yan Li lives and breathes American football. As a corporate trainer who uses American football to deliver management workshops to top talents, he estimates that he’s spent over 8000 hours watching, studying, and adoring it. That’s despite it being a sport that 99% of Chinese people have hardly any interest of or knowledge in. 

当严立介绍他以美式橄榄球为主题的潜能培训时，他的客户最初都感到迷惑和难以置信。觉得美式橄榄球不就是一场壮汉们到处乱跑、打来打去的野蛮游戏吗？这项来自大洋彼岸的运动能教给中国管理者关于团队管理、领导力和人才发展的知识吗？然而，在对100多个商业组织的5000多名参与者进行了150多场培训之后，收到的绝大多数的反馈是，“我学到了如何赢得比赛，使命必达！”

When Yan introduces his American football-themed workshop’s potential, his client’s initial response is usually confusion and disbelief. Isn’t American football just a violent, barbaric game where big guys run around hitting each other? What can this sport from the other side of the world possibly teach Chinese managers about team management, leadership and talent development? But after nearly 150 workshops delivered to over 100 business organizations and over 5000 participants, the overwhelming feedback is, “What I learn is how to play to win the game and play like a champion today!”

为什么是美式橄榄球呢？

Why American football?

 “运动可以反映人们的行为，”严立说，“相比于其他体育运动，美式橄榄球教会你团队合作、交流、纪律、执行和领导力的重要性。”严立还强调，美式橄榄球是展示当今经济现实本质的最佳运动。与商业世界一样，在激烈的竞争环境中，各个高水平的美式橄榄球队之间相互竞争。这种非常相似的场景将从本质上帮助管理者们把团队领导的更为成功。

“Sport reflects the behaviour of the people playing the sport”, says Yan, “And more so than any other sport, American football teaches you the importance of teamwork, communication, discipline, execution and leadership.” Yan also emphasizes how American football is the best sport to demonstrate the nature of today’s economic realities. Much like in the business world, American football features a highly competitive team playing in an intensely competitive environment. This direct parallel is intrinsically valuable for helping managers today lead their teams to become more successful. 

在他的企业管理培训开始前，严立提到，许多培训参与者问他中国人明明对乒乓球更熟悉，但在人才发展上为什么不用乒乓球来进行类比呢。“嗯，这曾是我们的头号运动”，严立笑着说。“但现在不是了，时代正在改变，从避免直接对抗的个人主义方式，朝着团队协作的方式转变。看看当下无比流行的篮球和足球，你就明白了。”

At the beginning of his corporate management workshops, Yan shares how many of his workshop participants ask why ping pong isn’t as useful an analogy for talent development, since it’s much more familiar to Chinese people. “Well, it used to be our number one sport”, laughs Yan. “Not anymore. Times are changing and shifting from a more individualistic approach that avoids direct confrontation to a more collaborative and team approach. Just look at the huge popularity these days of sports like basketball and soccer.”

将美式橄榄球融入到教给培训参与者的关键管理概念中，是严立新颖独特的方式。 “经理们并不想坐下来听他们之前听过的东西，” 严立说。“要想真正改变他们的思维方式并逐渐渗透关键管理概念，他们需要有自己正在学习新东西的感觉。美式橄榄球就是用一种很酷的方式，来展示在商业环境中团队合作、信任、以及明确共同目标后如何运营。尤其是参与者们在球场上的时候，这是他们从未有过的体验，而且他们真的很喜欢这种方式！” 

Using American football is Yan’s novel and unique way to engage and teach workshop participants key management concepts. “Managers don’t want to sit and listen to things they feel they’ve heard before,” says Yan. “To truly change their mindset and instil key management concepts, they need to feel like they’re learning something new. American football is a cool way to show how teamwork, trust, and clear, mutual goals also play out in business settings. Especially the part of the workshop that participants spend out on the field, that’s something they’ve never experienced before and really like!”

在管理上美式橄榄球能教给我们什么？

What can American football teach us about management?

优秀的团队合作—据严立说，从领导力方面来说，美式橄榄球给人最深远的影响就是优秀的团队合作和对队友无条件信任的必要性。“团队总是在你之上，”他强调道。“团队是第一位的，做好你的工作，就是在帮助彼此。”

Good teamwork – According to Yan, the most profound takeaway from American football for strong leadership is the necessity of good teamwork and unconditional trust in your teammates. “The team is always bigger than you,” he emphasizes. “The team comes first. Do your job, and you help yourself and each other.”

团队合作在美式橄榄球中得到了充分的体现。四分卫是最重要的球员，他就是控制比赛的人，极大地影响了球队的得分能力，并且赢得比赛的荣誉。然而，也有五名进攻线卫来保护这名四分卫，以保障他有充足的空间和时间来投球和得分，但是，因为他们几乎不碰球，这些球员从未被视为英雄，也没有引起摄像机的注意。

This insight into teamwork is clearly demonstrated in the game of American football. The quarterback is the most important player. He’s the one who controls the game, most impacts the team’s ability to score points, and gets credit for winning games. However, there are also five offensive linemen who protect the quarterback to give him the space and time he needs to throw the ball and score touchdowns. But because they hardly ever touch the ball, these players are never viewed as heroes, or draw the attention of the camera.

在商业上，那些看得见的销售和营销人员就像是四分卫。而公司中的承担保障职能的人力资源、财务和运营团队，就像是线卫，他们保障了销售和营销人员去获得重大交易并完成销售。所以，想要成为一个强大的团队领导者，经理人必须清楚地明白“团队”的真正含义。正如严立所强调的那样，看清大局、无条件信任团队，这是任何领导者的成功之本。

In business, the highly visible sales and marketing guys are like the quarterback. While the supporting functions, like the HR, finance and operations teams in companies are a lot like linesmen. They’re the ones who support the ability of the sales and marketing people to secure major deals and make the sales. So to be a strong leader of a team, managers must have a clear understanding of what being a ‘team’ really means. As Yan highlights, seeing the bigger picture and trusting the team unconditionally are fundamental to the success of any leader. 

高效的沟通—每一局美式足球只有40秒的准备时间。主教练、助理教练、四分卫和每位球员都必须在短时间内高效、清晰地沟通。“所有成功的比赛都是精准执行和高效沟通的结果，”严立说。“为达成高效地商业沟通，领导者必须直接交谈，了解交流的价值、过程和目的。他们必须确保整个团队进度一致，语言相通，并朝着同一个目标努力。无论是在球赛中获胜还是在商业场合，良好的沟通都是必不可少的。”

Efficient communication – Each play in American football has just 40 seconds to prepare. The head coach, assistant coaches, the quarterback and every player must all communicate with each other efficiently and clearly within this short time. “All successful plays are the result of precision execution and highly effective communication,” says Yan. “For effective business communication, leaders must also talk directly, know the value, process and purpose of their communication. They need to make sure the entire team is on the same page, speaking the same language, and working towards the same goal. Whether playing to win in a football game or business situation, good communication is essential.”

扎实的执行力—一旦你确立了团队目标并实现了良好沟通，现在你就需要去好好执行它。“这意味着每个人都要做好自己的工作，100%甚至200%地完美达成自己的任务，”严立说。这对团队成功至关重要。在美式橄榄球中，一旦所有人都交流好并计划了整场比赛，接球手必须知道谁要接球。然而，没有接到球的球员，也要尽其所能地去执行任务。根据比赛计划，这意味着他们需要去分散防守球员的注意力，来为目标接球手创造最佳的接球机会。因此，要执行一项任务并完成团队目标，每个团队成员都必须了解自己的角色，并尽其所能地做好它。即使不知道任务的结果如何，你也必须要尽力而为。你的能力和角色必须和你的毅力和野心相匹配。“美式橄榄球教会你永不放弃，严立说。它告诉你为什么你需要在每时每刻都尽最大努力去执行并实现团队目标。”

Solid execution – Once you’ve established the team goal and communicated it well, you now need to execute it well. “This means every person doing their job and fulfilling their task perfectly, 100% or even 120%,” says Yan. This is crucial for the team’s success. In American football, once the play has been designed and communicated by everyone, the wide receivers must know who is going to receive the ball. However, even those not receiving the ball have their task to execute to the best of their ability. Based on the design of the play, this means distracting defenders to give the targeted receiver the best chance to catch the ball. So, to execute a task and achieve the team goal, every team member must know his role and perform it to the best of his abilities. You must always try your best, even if the results from what you do are unclear. You must match your capability and role with your perseverance and desire. “American football teaches you to never give up, says Yan. It teaches you why you need to do your best every single moment to execute and achieve the team goal.”

尽管领导力很重要，但严立解释道，领导力则是以上三个要点的自然产物。“不是只有领导才有领导力，”他说，“领导力就是在正确的时间、正确的职位做正确的事，同时也要融入团队合作、高效交流和执行的关键品质。”

While leadership is important, Yan explains that it’s a natural product of learning these three things. “Leadership is not a monopoly of a leader,” he says. “It’s about doing the right thing and being in the right position at the right time. And incorporating the key characteristics of teamwork, communication and execution.” 

最后，严立说他的培训关注的是思维方式的转变。他的培训能够帮助和改变人们的行为。俗话说:“积习难改”。但是新习惯对于获得更优结果是必不可少的。严立认为，在管理层和高管职位上的80后和90后会更有自我意识，更乐意接纳新方法，也愿意去挑战现有想法。因此改变他们的思维方式和行为往往也更容易。

Ultimately, Yan says his workshops focus on changing mindset. His workshop deliveries are able to enhance and change behaviour. As they say, ‘old habits die hard’. But new habits are essential for achieving better results. Yan believes that people born after 1980 and 1990 and already in management and senior leadership positions have more self-awareness, are more open to new approaches, and are willing to challenge existing ideas. So it’s often easier for them to change their mindset and behaviour.

严立独特的管理和领导力训练方法源于他对自己的产品价值和美式橄榄球赛的深远信仰。因此，尽管很多中国人可能并不知道美式橄榄球是什么、怎么玩，他仍热切地相信这项充满战略性、协作性与活力的比赛能够有效地教给中国职场人关于团队合作、交流、执行以及更多的事。

Yan’s unique approach management and leadership training is rooted in his deep belief in both the value of his product and the power and influence of the game of American football. So, while most Chinese people may have no idea what American football is or how it’s played, he passionately believes that this strategic, collaborative and energetic game can effectively teach Chinese professionals about teamwork, communication, execution and a lot more.