The Difficulties of Team Building

Posted August 27th, 2007

Since I’ve been working with teams for many years, it is no surprise that team building is difficult. I think it is becoming more difficult. Some of my recent reading reminded me of what makes team building hard work for leaders.

In the current issue of The Futurist, an article about “Civilization’s Accelerating Challenge” points out that one difficulty is the “innate competitiveness of those who are both capable and ambitious.” People want to win and they want rewards and recognition and promotions. When organizations reward individual stars while promoting teamwork, those who are not viewed as stars become disillusioned about the team concept. If the stars are not rewarded for their greater contributions, they will seek other opportunities. And most people believe they are stars.

Arnold Brown points out in the article that athletic teams often struggle with this problem. I was also reading a book, How to Feel Great 24 Hours a Day, by the late George Sheehan. In a chapter on morale, Sheehan writes about George Allen, the late coach of the Washington Redskins.

Allen had seven rules for achieving team morale. He said the hardest rule to achieve was “work together.” Players work on their individual skills and learn their jobs and tasks well. The willingness to support others and pick up the slack for one another was difficult for players to do. I can hear them now.

“How could you miss that pass? I threw it perfectly!” The receiver replies to the quarterback, “What? It was three feet behind me!” And you can think of comments about blocking, snapping, hiking, kicking, and on and on.

Allen’s seven rules, all good tips for team building, are:

1. Work hard
2. Work together
3. Improve everyday
4. Have a positive attitude
5. Do not complain
6. Know that no one can beat you but yourself
7. Ask yourself how badly you want it.

I agree with Allen’s rules and know they apply to many teams and individuals. If a leader and a company is going to overcome difficulties in team building, a culture of self-leadership and continual coaching of self and peers is the only way I know. There are no magic bullets or short term fixes thinking one will gain long term success.

As Socrates said, “Know thyself. The unexamined life is not worth living.” When a person or a company is not willing to submit to a rigorous self-examination, difficulties will linger and excellence will not be achieved.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 27th, 2007 at 11:24 am and is filed under Leadership, Operational Excellence.