I like to think I’m pretty good at knowing how to create a great team culture. Now, that doesn’t mean that I’m always successful at it…but I know how to do it. And so do you, Coach. It comes down to knowing what you believe as a coach and finding players who buy into your vision.
It’s that simple.
You may have to frame it in a way that is understandable for them, but having a shared mission is critical to team development. Let’s look at how we can create the team atmosphere that we desire.
4 steps to creating a successful team culture
- Committing to shared mission and vision binds talent together. I’m sure we’ve all seen teams that are tremendously talented…on paper. Unfortunately, that talent isn’t focused in one direction, but rather in the many directions each “star” takes it. A truly successful team will have players who give up personal glory for the good of the group. It’s the coach’s job to give each person a roadmap to the success everyone wants for the future.
- Talent without shared commitment is disruptive and dangerous. Common goals keep a diverse group of people focused on the task at hand. I know I’ve used this example before, but having a team without a common vision is like putting ten people in a row boat and have them all rowing in separate directions. Not only will our teams not be focused, lack of vision makes players complain about playing time, or not go all out in practice, or slack off in the classroom.
- Don’t just tell me what you’ve done, tell me what you believe. As we talk to our teams, before and during their time with us, we’ve got to demand that they walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Talking is easy, working is hard. As it resting on what was accomplished yesterday. I’ve found that those who relive the successes of the past have an elevated opinion of themselves and an unrealistic view of their contribution to the group. I want to coach players who win a championship on Friday night and are back in the gym on Saturday morning. Those players aren’t living in the past, but preparing for the future.
- Talent is overrated – belief is underrated. What do you believe? When I ask coaches, I’m usually talking about their coaching philosophy. But players are the same. We need to find out what they believe and if their values are lined up with ours. I’m certainly not saying that we don’t need skilled and talented players on our teams, but I’ll take a lessor talent—who buys into the team vision—over a tremendously skilled player who is on their own program. Do they believe in team? Do they believe in something bigger than themselves? Then they can play for me!
The inspiration for this article came from Leadership Freak’s post, Talent is Never Enough.
