When I look at two totally different sports; I can’t help but sometimes make comparisons, in this case it is Australian Rules football and boxing. Both are physical sports requiring skill, technique, mental toughness and stamina.

I also like to make analogies between business and sport; it is my belief a comparison of the two sports in regards to scoring may be made. A championship professional boxing bout is divided into twelve three minute rounds utilising a ten points must system. The bout is scored from round to round with generally a trend occurring when the bout goes the distance; that is, there is no stoppage or disqualification and the judges must make a ruling to determine who is the winner.

A boxer may dominate in the early rounds with the middle rounds drawn and the opposing boxer finishing strongly. With this scoring methodology, a fighter is not disadvantaged for pushing hard early attempting to finish the bout before a decision is reached. Likewise, a boxer with a superior technique and endurance is able to either absorb a degree of punishment before taking advantage of their bob and weave before landing punches as their opponent tires losing both strength and hence knockout ability with their technique deteriorating under fatigue. Baring no knockout, the bout is scored on rounds won with either a unanimous decision, a majority decision or split decision awarded. A boxer may knock his opponent out and despite being behind on points still win the bout.

Australian Rules football is divided into four quarters with six points awarded for a goal and a single point awarded for a behind; that is a kick not passing through the goals or a kick being touched by an opposition player before the ball crosses the line. The leader of each individual quarter has no outcome on the bearing of the match, the quarter by quarter scoring allows coaching staff to develop strategies throughout the match to counter opposition strategies. In such a scenario, the team leading on the scoreboard when the final siren sounds is the winner. A team could be trailing all match only to hit the lead just before the siren sounds, there is also a provision the shoot for goals after certain circumstances but the end result still stands.

In a business scenario, this is what is exactly happening at my workplace with all the stalling and roadblocks placed in my path. However, unlike a boxing bout, no actual scoring is taking place. Apart from the psychological advantage they believe they are gaining, this actually strengthens my resolve. A similarity may be drawn on an Australian Rules Football match, you only need to be ahead on the scorecard when the final siren sounds and I am intentionally timing my run to record a decisive come from behind victory. I am up for this and I am more than happy to raise the stakes.