Transform Time With Your Team

“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”
- Napoleon Hill

Exceptional teamwork is difficult to achieve, even among sincere and talented groups of people. One big challenge to effective teamwork is that many companies and groups are structured like the drama filled television game of Survivor, where only one player makes it to the million dollar prize and everyone else is left fighting for a basket of fruit.

But even when incentives are more equitably aligned, effective teamwork is not usually prioritized. Athletic teams - where winning is literally a shared goal, are no exception and many talented players have a difficult time simply passing the ball. In fact, with so many college scholarships on the line, learning to effectively pass is rare even at the high school level. Of course good coaches keep an eye out for those rare stars who not only rack up individual stats but also elevate the play of their teammates.

How to become that player, business colleague, friend or neighbor who “makes everyone better”? Or as a coach or manager, how do you build a team where winning and smart passing are celebrated?

1). Look for the Open Man
Helping others succeed starts with awareness of who is on the field with you. There is untapped talent on every team. The best play makers learn to spot opportunities for others and then thread the needle with a perfect pass.

2). Focus on the W
Teams only work when everyone is committed to a shared outcome. Keep your teammates focused on the win by demonstrating commitment and excellence yourself.

3). Practice Passing the Ball
This might seem obvious, but unless the organization or team prioritizes passing and collaboration drills, the team will not learn to cooperate. Practice passing the ball. You can do this individually as well. Write those eMails, reach out to colleagues, do those unexpected things that help others “just because”.

In hockey, it’s not surprising that Wayne Gretzky is the greatest scorer of all time because he was also the greatest passer of all time, averaging an incredible 1.3 assists per game. Honing his skills for seeing the open man also allowed him to become the open man and get his own shots.

The more you learn to see the opportunity space for others, the clearer your own opportunity space becomes. The opposite is also true - the narrower your field of vision, the more shots you will miss because you won’t even know they existed. Look up and learn to make the great pass. In doing so, you will also become a great scorer whatever field you’re playing on!