Posted by “Rugged individualism never builds anything of lasting significance.” – JSP
I like baseball, when an individual with a bat standing at home plate, facing another individual standing on a mound of dirt sixty feet six inches away about to throw a baseball 90 miles an hour. The batter’s objective is to put the ball in play by hitting it to get on base. The pitcher’s objective is to get the batter out by keeping him off the bases.
The faceoff between the two players may seem like the epitome of individual achievement, when in fact it isn’t. Both players have entire teams behind them, and it takes teamwork to win games and championships. The business world is no different, you will either have gifted and talented people working well together or your business will have a losing season.
It takes effective leaders to assemble winning teams; this is the reason owners fire the manager of a losing team. Great leaders understand the familiar phrase, “it takes teamwork to make the dream work.” Winning leaders assemble winning teams.
Highly effective leaders are single-minded, open-minded and consistent at the same time, they build teams, cast vision, and empower team members to be their best, work together, stay on course, and accomplish their objectives. Effective teams add value to their organization as well as each other. Effective teams transform the quality of the organization’s work environment, increasing productivity.
Good teamwork is an effective culture of collaborative efforts; we aren’t designed to succeed alone; we need each other to make things work. The world is always a better place when people work together. Your organization is no exception; you must have effect teams to accomplish your vision.
Simon Sinek says, “A culture is strong when people work with each other, for each other. A culture is weak when people work against each other, for themselves.” So, what are some of the basic components of a highly effective team?
5 Basic Components of a Winning Team
1) Acquire the Right People with the Right Talent and Skills
Every team needs a variety of gifted people who work well together. Jim Collins says, “The right people in the program means “talent” in the sporting world. Great recruiting is critical for taking a good program to the great level. You must attract the right people to your team and then make sure that they are in the positions that maximize their strengths.”
2) Develop A Servants Mentality
Robert K. Greenleaf believed that “The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve.” The Servant-leader models being others-oriented, that mindset and value are passed on to the team members. Humility is a character trait that isn’t self-seeking. Qualities such as adaptability, dependability, honesty, empathy, self-awareness are traits to look for in building a winning team.
3) Confidently Competent
You’re looking for team members who accomplish their objectives with a degree of excellence. You’ll want members who know how to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat when things start going wrong. Members who lose heart under pressure become a weak link that can slow progress and impact team morale. Look for self-motivators who make a positive contribution to your team’s culture.
4) Encouraging and Empowering
Always be on the lookout for signs of an emerging leader; this brings depth to your team. Emerging leaders positively influence everyone on the team, raising their awareness of their potential. Emerging leaders also empower team members to take ownership of their objectives contributing to a winning mindset.
5) Develop a Personal Growth Mindset
Life-long learners bring sustainability to a team. As a leader, you owe it to yourself and to your team to model a personal growth mindset. Having a team of life-long learners creates depth, a wealth of knowledge, and increases the effectiveness and productivity of your team. A team of life-long learners is a team of multipliers bringing exponential growth to your organization.
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” –Michael Jordan