Many years ago, when I was coaching young kids in baseball, softball, and basketball, some people, mostly parents would say thinks that I though were curious. They said things like "c'mon kids play together as a team" or "there is no I in team."
I thought back then that there is something fundamentally wrong about these statements and now that I am older and, hopefully wiser, I understand it a little better.
Yes, teamwork is essential to success in sports as well as in business. However, it is clear that all individuals have unique talent and sets of talents. Bringing these talents together for a common good is the job of a leader.
In his book Go Put Your Strengths to Work, author Marcus Buckingham puts into works some of the notions I have had about teamwork. In this book Marcus discusses some key myths about success and one of them specifically involves teamwork. He states it like this: Myth - a good team member does whatever it takes to help the team.
Truth - a good team member deliberately volunteers his or her strengths to the team most of the time. Further, a great team member is not well rounded. The great team is well rounded, precisely because each team member is not.
Well said, Marcus.
1 comment:
It's a great point, Michael. Too many times a "team" loses not because they didn't play together, but because they didn't have a good enough leader that could identify the strengths and weaknesses of their players. Sun Tzu and many other philosophers say it best: Know yourself. You can't be successful if you don't know your strengths and weaknesses. That's the attitude I take with me in my business.
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