Lessons from the field

What we can learn from the USWNT

The U.S. women’s national soccer teams (USWNT) big win on Sunday was more than a victory, it was a testament to their outstanding record, and even more so, their outstanding teamwork.

In a previous blog, I mentioned that I was a soccer midfielder at the University of Miami and how this experience has shaped my approach to well-being. Watching the U.S. win on Sunday was a reminder of that time in my life. And as I look back, I realize that it wasn’t the victories I remember the most – it was the team.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have the same caliber of talent that the USWNT has (if we did, perhaps I would have found myself in a very different role now). But what we did have was a lot of grit, passion, and support for each other. It wasn’t just about how much we trained and practiced, it was about the relationships we built and how we operated as a team. As I watched the 23 incredible players of the USWNT celebrate their victory, I could tell that they also understood the importance of building strong connections with their peers.  

We already know that the resilience and recovery strategies that elite athletes employ to stay on top of their game can also be applied to the corporate world to achieve high performance. But I think there is more we can learn from team sports, particularly on the importance of relationships. Building meaningful connections, in the office or on the field, helps us find meaning in what we do, improves engagement, and creates a sense of belonging. Here are a few ideas inspired by the U.S.’s recent win to encourage and nurture connections on your team:

Create face-to-face time. Sports teams have the benefit of practicing together to enhance their skills. In the corporate world, we aren’t always so lucky. Sure, the virtual world comes with some benefits – namely, flexibility, but relationships aren’t built over the phone or via IM. They take some good ol’ fashioned in-person time to truly grow. Try to make time for your team members to meet in person, even if it’s just a couple of times of year, and make sure that when they do, you create space for them to connect.

Focus on relational skills. The team captain may not be the best player on the team, but they know how to motivate their players by leveraging their individual strengths to accomplishing a team goal. Managing a team at work isn’t really that different. Teams prosper when their leaders have strong relational skills (not just technical ones), so organizations can benefit by hiring and promoting people on relational skills, as well. Additionally, teams tend to be more motivated when they are recognized as a group, instead of receiving recognition or accolades as individuals.

Celebrate! As I saw fans going wild and players rejoicing in their victory, it occurred to me that one thing we often overlook in the business world is celebrating. You and your team work hard. You accomplish big goals. You do great things. Take a moment and celebrate that together. When you stop and reflect on what you achieved together, you realize the impact that you make as individuals and as a team, and that helps everyone build confidence, excitement, and engagement in the work that they do.

Over the past month, the camaraderie of the USWNT has been hard to ignore. And there is no doubt that the power of their relationships off field translated to strength of play on field. It also makes them fun to watch and hard not to love! It’s not just that they overcame some formidable opponents to bring home another World Cup victory, but they did it despite the challenges they faced. They built authentic connections with one another and supported each other every step of the way. As a team, as a squad, and as human beings who simply find joy in building connections with one another.