By: Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith recognizes the importance of hard work and discipline in the workplace. After decades of experience as a human resources executive, he’s considered a thought leader in the HR space. Playing team sports can help people understand businesses and people better.
“Team sports teach you about playing your role, doing what you are good at and improving where you are not, the importance of hard work and discipline, appreciating the skills and personalities of your teammates, working together to win [and] learn to channel your competitiveness,” says Smith. By that, he means individuals should aim their ambition and competitiveness at the other team instead of within their own.
Jeff Smith is the former BlackRock Head of global HR. Additionally, he held senior HR roles at Time Warner throughout the company’s merger with America Online and beyond.
Smith grew up enjoying playing sports, specifically soccer and basketball. He roots for the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams and has been fortunate enough to attend the World Cup soccer championship many times. “It’s my favorite sporting event,” he shares.
Smith’s also an avid fan of the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, and the University of Connecticut’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. “I love to watch and go to games and am very supportive of sports in general. I think you learn a lot about life playing and following sports,” says Smith.
The human resources executive applies many of the same principles from sports to team building in executive teams and boardrooms. “One of my favorite things about working in companies is the teams and people you get to work with,” he says.
“I like the energy, and I like that everyone has to figure out their roles while also dealing with and respecting each other’s personalities, opinions, and how they do things,” Jeff Smith expounds. “I like that it is difficult,” says Smith. “Many teams fail because of egos, politics, and a lot of BS that [does] not help what the goal is for a group or organization.”
Instead of negativity, Smith has seen people successfully reach their full potential when accentuating the positive. He says, “I like trying to play the role of helping to bring out the best in others, to bring people together, and to help make the team a team.”
Team Cohesiveness Is Critical, Smith Believes
In today’s competitive market, thinking outside the box is essential, especially since, as of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, and 28.2% utilize a hybrid work model. While there’s been a steady rise in remote employment, boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, 59.1% of the workforce continues to do traditional in-office work.
Research company Gartner predicts that by 2024, in-person meetings will drop from 60% to 25% as remote meetings become the norm. Team-building activities can improve the remote working experience.
With remote work, the new standard — employee well-being — should be a priority to maximize return on investment. As a result, corporate wellness retreats are rising in popularity. The Global Wellness Institute estimates the global wellness travel industry will reach $1.3 trillion in 2025.
Katharine Sharpstone, managing director of Trip Tribe Wellness, stated, “It’s such an important part of every company culture in this hybrid world, as organizations focus on taking care of their employees. Both employees and clients are demanding wellness to be a major part of the agenda as it makes their employees more productive and it helps to build deep, meaningful relationships with their clients.”
Just as each sports team member has their strengths and weaknesses, it’s important to recognize that employees have different personalities and ability levels. It is important that teams know each other and have self-awareness. The more people get to know each other the more they like, appreciate, and have empathy for one another.
Former BlackRock Head of Global HR’s Philanthropic Endeavors and Education
The human resources executive, who has a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, has served on the board of the Boys & Girls Club. He says he “found it really rewarding to support somewhere that created community and learning in communities where that was needed and really important.”
Smith says, “I have also been involved in sports-based, soccer and basketball, charitable organizations that provide learning and exercise but, importantly, a place to be that is productive after school.
Published by: Khy Talara
