The Team With The Best Players Doesn't Always Win
Is it possible to have a team of very high performers and yet not be a high performing organization? It happens all the time, in sports and in the business world. How many times have you watched a ball game where a roster of highly talented players can’t seem to work together to win the game? Similarly, how many organizations do you know with an extremely talented leadership team, and yet they consistently fall short of expectations and goals? Individual talent alone is not enough to win in team sports, and in many ways, running a business is in fact a “team sport”.
Look at the most recent NBA Finals and Super Bowl Champions, the San Antonio Spurs and the New England Patriots. Both of these organizations are known for their consistent success, and both have visible and high performing leaders. However, last year, the Spurs success was driven by a commitment to sharing the ball and having equal contribution from every player on the team. A few months ago, the Patriots won a thrilling Super Bowl when a fourth string, undrafted defender made a last second interception. In both cases, the winning teams depended on the collective efforts of each player working seamlessly and performing at high levels, not solely on the high performance of a few select team members.
I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying over and over again, that one plus one equals three. Cliché or not, the truth is that the combined impact of two high performing individuals far exceeds the potential of each one performing individually. Collaboration and teamwork are common threads that define all successful organizations. My blog from last week talked about the importance of everyone in an organization doing his or her job. No degree of high performance by a few individuals can compensate for a weakness in teamwork and collaboration. Any tow truck driver knows that the chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
High performing organizations require everyone to perform at a high level, not just a select few. And it requires teamwork and collaboration to leverage the strength of all members of the team. That’s what a culture of high employee engagement is all about.