Photo by: University of San Diego Athletics
I’m sure many of you, like myself, have played sports. I played soccer from a young age through high school. No matter the sport you played, you understand the importance of positions and people playing within their role. Every player has a certain responsibility, and the success of the team depends on everyone executing their specific role.
A great example of this is my cousin, Vicente Ayala, who just finished his collegiate soccer career at University of San Diego. Despite not recording a goal, he proved to be one of the most valuable players on the squad over his four years. He played defensive mid, which means that he was the anchor of the team, making defensive plays in the back and moving the ball forward.
This doesn’t mean that he never tried to contribute offensively. He recorded 21 shots over his career. But his value wasn’t defined by scoring, it was defined by how well he executed his role. His play helped the Toreros reach three NCAA tournaments and win four straight WCC championships, showing exactly how valuable it is when someone executes their role at a high level.
This same idea applies all over. At work, not every task, decision, or responsibility is done by one person. When people step too far outside their role, it can create confusion and inefficiency. What feels like doing more can actually take away from maximizing efficiency across the entire team.
The strongest teams aren’t built with people trying to do everything. They’re built on people who are strong within the roles they play. Real value to the system comes when everybody is doing their jobs efficiently and trusting others to do the same. I’m not saying to stay complacent or “stay in your lane.” It’s about understanding your strengths and executing your role at the highest level.
You’re in that position for a reason. Own it!
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