Five tips to have a successful team

Hello readers,

At some point in our lives we will be on or participate in a team. I have been on a number of teams in my life, whether it was a working team in the Navy, a team activity at work, or a sports team. I have noticed a trend in what makes a team successful. Below is my list of five tips for building a team:

1. Honesty- Leaders must be honest with themselves and their teams. Leaders cannot expect something they are not delivering themselves.
2. Delegate Properly- Give each team member assignments. Each member of the team has a job to do to make the team work. Think of the team as the human body, all parts need to function together to work at its full capacity.
3. Positive-negative-Positive- Speak in this manner when dealing with issues. Always mention the positive, then the issue, and lastly a positive.
4. Be a real human being- True leaders allow their team into their world. Authentic leaders talk about the baseball game with the kids or the vacation they took. Allow your team to see that you are not a robot.
5. Innovation- Leaders must continue to seek out new ideas to revamp the way things are done on the team. Invite the teams input and put their ideas into action.

Your thoughts are welcome…

MJW

www.truthspeakscoaching.com

Wooden’s Principles

I recently read one of the many books about Coach John Wooden entitled "Coach Wooden’s Leadership Game Plan for Success". I was very impressed at his ability to coach successful basketball teams for over 40 years using some simple tactics which could benefit us all. Here is a small sample of what I learned:

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1. Do not let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.

2. Aim to work hard not to win. Keep your mind focused on what you can do and not what the opponent can do.

3. Character is who you really are. You cannot hide it, it will eventually come out.

4. Discipline yourself and others will not have to.

5. Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow.

6. Always be ready and the opportunity will come.

7. Be slow to criticize and quick to commend.

8. The best talent doesn’t always make the best team. Attitude rules everything.

9. Enthusiasm is the ignition switch. Turn it on and things start happening.

10. Never Lie, Never Cheat, Never Steal. Don’t whine, Don’t complain, and Don’t make excuses.

Let us know your thoughts.

 

Wooden J. & Jamison S. (2009), Coach Wooden’s Leadership Game Plan for Success. 12 Lessons for   Extraordinary Performance and Personal Excellence. McGraw-Hill. New York, NY.

MJW

www.truthspeakscoaching.com