Fall is my favorite time of the year. The cool, crisp air and leaves turning into a quilt of colors bring me joy. But there’s another reason that generates the most excitement – the start of another football season! I join many fans who look forward to being in the stands, settling in to watch the four-game multi-view on TV (thank you, YouTube TV), or sweating over a fantasy football roster just before kickoff.

I’m a former QB who long ago faced the reality of transitioning from being a player to becoming a “has-been-want-to-be” fan. Still, I naturally think back to and relive the glory days on the gridiron with my teammates. The hot August evening practices after working all day on the farm, the pep rallies, suiting up and strapping on the helmet, taking the field under the lights – all of which I now realize should never be taken for granted as they pass us by in a fleeting moment.

Every player wants to earn playing time and be on the field. That’s what you work toward. But part of the game is inevitably being on the bench. It can, unfortunately, be due to an injury. But it can also be when it’s just time for another player to step in and step up. Regardless of the situation, there is a key takeaway that coaches drill into their players, and the players must discipline themselves to embrace it: “Keep your head in the game and be ready!”

Ebbs and Flows in the Workplace

So, you may ask, how does this trip down memory lane relate to my present workplace at Atomic Object, a custom software development consultancy? Surprisingly, there can be “bench time” on a software project as well.

In my role as a delivery lead at Atomic, I serve at the intersection between our clients and our internal teams, comprised of designers and developers who build the software. Our managing partners evaluate and assess opportunities with clients by helping define the scope, budget, anticipated deliverables, and duration of the project to ensure we achieve the client’s business objectives.

When a client chooses Atomic as a partner, a team typically comprised of a delivery lead, a designer, and a few developers is assigned to the project. We spend time collaborating with the client. We research different approaches, designing optimal user interfaces, planning, building, and iteratively releasing new software. But, ultimately, the project will conclude. It can be bittersweet. You take pride in the development and delivery of a custom software solution. And, you’ve invested so much into understanding the client’s business, collaborating daily with your Atomic teammates to build the software, and weekly (even at times daily) interactions with the client to share progress. So, it can be tough to step away.

Often, the next client project is waiting in the wings, teed up, and ready to begin. But, during a transitional period, our managing partners assess who to assign based on personnel capacity and/or skill deployment. This may result in periodic bench time to work on other initiatives or special projects. Such has been the case for me recently. I’ve been working alongside our managing partners and marketing team on account-based marketing and key business development initiatives.

Staying in Motion

One key learning I’ve come to realize while “on the bench” is how important it is to add value by staying true to our Atomic values. Here are some examples.

Think Long Term. We focus on evaluating and executing on strategic plans, thinking ahead, exploring new opportunities, evaluating industry trends, and anticipating new clients’ questions and needs (i.e., AI tools, services, and resources).

Own It. It’s expected of us to show initiative and navigate the gray space when taking on new responsibilities, and to do so by exhibiting curiosity, critical thinking, and a positive can-do mindset.

Share the Pain. When you’re on the bench, there’s likely individual, heads-down work that differs greatly from the day-to-day collaboration with colleagues on project assignments. Teammates may be curious about how you’re investing your time, and why you’ve taken refuge in a quiet space in the office when it demands focus on outside-the-norm work. It’s great when a work environment like Atomic is conducive to this approach, and you know your colleagues are there to support you.

Teach and Learn. Special assignments often result in new learnings and uncovering approaches that may not have been attempted in the past. So, it’s imperative to share insights often and consistently throughout.

Act Transparently. Ambiguity can creep in on bench time assignments. It’s important to seek alignment continuously, not be intimidated by trial-and-error, and be nimble to explore other possible solutions.

Give a Sh*t. Embrace the challenge and have confidence that the assignment is worth doing and doing it well to the best of your ability. Push yourself. Deliver results.

Ready for What’s Next

Football is a dynamic sport. As a player, or fan, there is constant engagement throughout the season with a heightened level of anticipation for what is yet to come. Whether it’s the next play or the next game. Time on the bench can and should be focused and productive. One measure of a player’s value is your coach and teammates knowing they can rely on you not only when you’re on the field but also while on the sideline. That way, when the coach points to you and says, “Get in there,” you’re prepared for what’s next.