Don't ask what the team can do for you. You are the team.

Today was a great day for the Houstonians, as the Houston Astros baseball team won ?over thethe Texas Rangers with 5-4. In the league championship series Game 5 , Houston leads 3-3. As I open my car radio most of the comments were about the Astros and the voices are happy.

I personally discovered the magic of baseball, back in 2021 after relocating to Texas. It's fascinating how it quickly became my son’s favorite sport, finding ?its place in our daily dinner conversations.

For me baseball is about the essence of teamwork. The rules, the focus,? the positions and the whole etiquette around it forms the team identity.

Tomorrow, for instance, I'm responsible for snacks for my son's baseball team. I can hardly contain my excitement about standing behind the dugout, witnessing 11 kids manifest the spirit of unity and passion. And oh! My favorite dugout chant? "Hit the ball, hit the ball, all the way to Arkansas!" – the sheer unpredictability of it makes it so delightful.

However, it's not just about sports. From our early ancestors collaborating in hunts to modern-day office dynamics, teams working toward a shared goal have always been a key element of human society.

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?Today, while our admiration mostly favors sports teams and their breathtaking performances, we often overlook the importance of teamwork in our daily professional lives.

Last week I had to deliver a virtual TedX talk from my Houston office all the way to the Romanian city of Constanta. I was alone on the stage and the camera mainly capture me and my décor but my performance on stage depended on so many people. The voice, the body language, the content of the speech, my hair, my outfit and even the lighting in my room was the result of a focused effort of a small group of people who never even met: the ?speech coach, the technical support team on the location, my assistant, my hairdresser and my children who joined rehearsals. Great things are achieved when we manage to channel the talent and gifts of people towards a common purpose.

Now, here's a thought – What if we brought the passion of these sports teams into our professional settings? What if our workplaces became happy baseball dugouts where we cheer for each other rather than elbowing each other.

Years ago, while traveling to ?London for business, I came across the ?framework ?of Systemic Team Coaching. I decided to enroll for the first certificate module

?What struck me was its emphasis on the real work of the team happening outside the coaching room. It wasn’t ?were the generic 'fun team building exercises.' Instead, the true teamwork was collaborating towards a mutual objective for the betterment of clients and stakeholders.

Having seen its impact first while appying it as an Organization Development Advisor in Shell, I became a believer and decided to a do the master diploma course. Now I'm thrilled to introduce Systemic Team Coaching to my fellow Houstonian.

?? Come 22-24 January 2024, I will be collaborating with Prof Peter Hawkins to bring the Systemic Team Coaching Certificate course right here The Woodlands! This face-to-face session is a unique opportunity for those based in North America.

In baseball, football or any other team sports the key principle is that the team is more important than the individual, no matter his or her skill. Do you hold the same belief at work? Or even in your family?