Imagine watching the 1995 Rugby World Cup final without a scoreboard: no way to track the battle between South Africa and the New Zealand All Blacks; no knowledge of who’s in the lead with 5 minutes to go, or 30-seconds; no scoreboard to show that a single score separates the two teams and a single mistake or moment of magic could decide the game. Would the players have fought as hard? Would the nation have erupted in the same shared triumph?

Obviously not. That’s because the scoreboard changes everything. With it, the players are 100% engaged in a give-all performance to lift the trophy. Without it, they aren’t.

In your business too, the scoreboard changes everything. That’s why Discipline #4 is: Lead by Scoreboard.

Why a Scoreboard Matters

A scoreboard isn’t just a way to track progress. It’s about making performance visible. A scoreboard clarifies (are we winning, and what must we do about it?), galvanises, and engages your team, turning strategy execution into a game your team really wants to win.

Without a scoreboard, teams lose clarity, get trapped in the whirlwind, lose motivation, and execution of the hard goals that really matter fizzles. But with a well-designed scoreboard, performance soars.

The Players’ Scoreboard

Here’s the secret: your team needs their own scoreboard. Not the complex, data-heavy one the leadership team uses—that’s the coach’s scoreboard. Instead, your team needs a simple, visible, and actionable tool that answers two key questions:

• Are we winning?
• What must we do next?

Scoreboard Tips

• Each team must focus on a single WIG (Wildly Important Goal). The scoreboard should track your team’s Quarterly WIG—what’s most critical to achieving the company’s BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), this Quarter.
• Keep it simple and clear. Avoid clutter. A great scoreboard shows only the most relevant metrics.
• Make it real-time. An outdated scoreboard disengages the team. Update it frequently to show progress and spark action.
• Let the team own it. A scoreboard designed and maintained by the team boosts commitment and accountability.
• Motivate through visibility. Position the scoreboard where the team can see it daily—it’s a constant reminder of their goals and progress. Use the scoreboard as the focus of weekly team meetings.

Ready to Lead by Scoreboard?

Teams thrive when you give them a game worth winning, and they know the score. With a well-designed scoreboard, execution becomes a game that inspires commitment and drives results.

In our next post, we’ll explore Discipline #5: Act on Lead Measures—because empowering team members to act on what they can control, is one of the big keys to winning.

Ready to Power Up Your Execution? 

For more strategies on keeping your team motivated and tracking success, explore The Art of Scale book. It’s packed with practical tools and insights for building a scalable, winning business. Get your copy here.

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