A couple of weeks ago, the basketball team that I play for in our local league won the Easter Cup, which is now the Guy Brocklebank Trophy, in memory of a teammate that we sadly lost a few years ago. I am proud of our achievement, and it really demonstrates the power of teamwork.
We are the oldest team in the league, with 3 of us over 50, and the rest of the team not exactly youthful (not giving any more detail than that!). The team we played in the final were mostly in their mid-20's and are all good players. As individuals, they were clear favourites to win. However, I had no doubt that we were the better team, indeed, I would say we are the best team in the league.
It was not an easy game, but our teamwork got us over the line.
As Teaming is one of my areas of focus in flockofcats I've reflected on what contributes to our enduring success as a team...
- We play to our individual strengths and we try to make each other better
- We work hard for each other - it is about collective success rather than personal performance
- Mistakes are accepted and never punished
- We have adapted through periods of change - changes in personnel, players get older, injuries....
- We have identified a way of playing that works for us and we stick to some simple principles that enable us to perform
- And we have fun together (despite all the aches and pains!)
I am always mindful of the limitations of sporting metaphors and their translation to the world of work, but I think it is helpful to remember that in the right environment just how powerful teamwork can be.
