Build a Winning Team
February 8th, 2010 Posted in Newsletter
In the spirit of the New Orleans Saints winning their first Super Bowl I thought this was an appropriate newsletter this week.
I often say that, “You win in the locker room first. Then you win on the field.”
Whether we’re talking sports, business, education, healthcare, etc. the key to success is to build a winning team first. Of course this seems obvious but with increasing pressure to reach certain targets and goals and a challenging economy it’s easy for leaders and their teams to become outward focused on numbers and outcomes rather than inward focused on building the right environment, culture, attitude and synergy.
We must remember that it’s not the numbers that drive the people but the people and team that drive the numbers. The power comes from the inside and then it extends outward. Just as physical trainers will tell you that to build a strong body you must build your core, to build a strong organization you must build your core foundation-consisting of your people and team. Without a strong core you’ll have weak energy, weak performance and weak results.
The Saints were able to perform at a high level and as Drew Brees said, “We came together as a team and we believed in each other.” Without this belief, synergy and unity do you think it would have been possible for them to win the Super Bowl?
The same goes for the game of business and life.
Now more than ever it’s time to energize your people, communicate with them, invite them “on the bus” and move them in the right direction with a shared vision, focus and purpose. Negativity and fear are knocking your people off balance. It’s time to regroup, refocus, reenergize and create a strong core. With a solid foundation and a winning team you create strength on the inside that can withstand the negativity, naysayers and adversity on the outside.
I’ve spoken to a number of professional and college sports teams and am honored that many teams have read my books. Yet I have learned a valuable lesson. Books and speeches don’t win championships. Culture, players and coaches do. It’s their beliefs, actions, talent and teamwork that make the difference.
So, what action are you going to take this week to build a winning team at work, home, school, or on the sports field? Share your thoughts on our blog here.
-Jon
11 Responses to “Build a Winning Team”
By Carl on Feb 8, 2010
Thanks Jon! Great article! I think one of the things I will do this week is to take time to intentionally encourage others. Sometimes we can be so busy we forget to slow down long enough to thank those who help make our successes a reality.
By Mary Jo Martin on Feb 8, 2010
I think the first episode of Undercover Boss illustrates this point well…
By Patty Walters on Feb 8, 2010
Great post, Jon! Love the coming together as a team that gets the results. I watched one of my favorite coaching films over the weekend again — Miracle about the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team. Same message — they won because of the team spirit and team talent that exploded on the ice through brilliant coaching. I am inspiring people in my life to collaborate and and to inspire each other to create great results this week!
By Jay Blessent on Feb 8, 2010
I truly beleive every word in your blog today. Our office culture is built around core values and it really does keep the right people on the bus(and the wrong ones off) and energy levels high.
By JBL on Feb 8, 2010
One of the aspects of teams is that people ignore “the thing in the bushes” that creates problems. This week I will be discussing those things in order to eliminate the tension/problems created by them that everyone tip toes around, hopefully this will enhance the environment.
By smileym on Feb 8, 2010
Jon!
Love your inspirational words and today’s more than every and you’re right…you must have your team on board. People will help build what they know they are a part of.
Question? How do you make them feel and believe that although some of the rewards I as their director I will benefit from but that through that too comes the succession of their goals and dreams too!
By CMM on Feb 8, 2010
Thanks Jon,
Your article makes a lot of great points, but none are more powerful than the need to re-energize, re-focus and eliminate the fear and negativity! To change this culture, it’s important to have courage, confidence, commitment, belief and pride!
By Sherry Garrett on Feb 8, 2010
Jon,
Excellent Article.
Your Enthusiasm is
Truly Admired.
By Elad Sherf on Feb 8, 2010
Thanks Jon. As usual, Your points are spot on! A few thoughts of my own:
We think that if we only concentrate on the results, on the task or the issues at hand, everything will be fine. And then we go into a spiral, where the task demands more and more time. And what gets left behind? The team. It’s culture, it’s structure, the interactions between the people.
We have so much work on our hands that “working on the team culture and processes” seem like an indulgence. Who has time for that? We have real work to do. So what do we do, we go to some team building exercise in the woods, where we pull ropes for a day and feel like we worked on our teamwork.
But that is just like going to the gym for a week. Very painful in the short run and not very helpful in the long run.
See more on this: http://tinyurl.com/yglezkf
Thanks again for being a true inspiration!
Elad
By Randy Bosch on Feb 9, 2010
Jon, Thanks for the fine presentation of team-building essentials! Additionally, the practical side needs to be addressed as well. For example, John Wooden was renowned for preparedness focus as well as strategic genius–Teaching team members to put their socks on and tie their shoes correctly (you can’t play well on hurting feet); Seemingly endless dribbling & passing drills (get the basics turned into flawless habits in order to let true talent push through - you can’t take that killer shot if you double dribble), et.al.
Team-building also requires a “gifting economy” - learning to share one’s surplus without any compensation from your teammate- except that of making it all work!