The Chadock Group, LLC

Football season is here. Conference season is here too.

After coaching high school football for sixteen years, this time of year always excites me. Now, that same excitement shows up in a new way as I prepare to speak at conferences across the country.

Serving a community as a Parks and Recreation Director while also serving the high school as a football coach was a lot of work, especially in Northeastern Ohio where football is huge and competition is tremendous.

During that time, I learned a lot about studying and preparation.

I feel no other sport addresses mental and physical preparation in the same ways as football. Yes, I am biased. I am a football coach.

Whether preparing for conferences, meetings, football games, or projects, a few basics always matter:

1. Review material
2. Know audience
3. Architect a plan
4. Practice
5. Enjoy the moment

Reviewing material and knowing your audience may sound basic, but do not underestimate their importance. They shape delivery. Even with work projects, I do not deliver the same thing in the same way to everyone. I must know the group and understand how they will receive a message.

So many people think, “We are having the meeting to develop a plan, so I do not need a plan walking in.” This is false. It is acceptable to have a rough idea of how you would like to see something go while staying open. Yet you still need a plan for how you will run the meeting, questions you will ask to ignite conversation, solutions needed, and how you will approach things, especially difficult conversations or choices.

I always practice. If I have a challenging meeting, I not only practice my normal routine, I also prepare myself to answer the naysayers questions and purposely think of outlandish things I may be asked and how I would answer them.

Life is busy and time flies. Before you know it, you will be writing holiday speeches acknowledging all the hard work your staff put in during 2026 and designing a new New Years resolution. And yes, you know I hate those. So pause, live in the moment, and enjoy it. Catch up with an old friend. Make a new friend.

I recently had a former colleague express to me City Council’s appreciation for their preparedness as they concluded a meeting that dealt with operational challenges.

Their response to me was heartwarming: “Your passion to prepare and expectation that we would be prepared has engrained this habit in me, and I see the benefits tenfold. Thank you.”

I always love hearing about victories people have.

Preparation precedes performance, and if you or your team needs help, I am here.