Lessons from the soccer field: Building stronger teams
Kirryn Zerna
?? Communication & Connection Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Top Communication Voice | Non Executive Director | Author | GAICD | MMgt | BComm |
Watching from the sidelines of my daughter’s newly formed soccer team, I couldn’t help but reflect on what makes a team work.
Before they started the game, the coach pulled out the whiteboard. He showed them their positions with their names on the field. He said, "Alright team it's going to be a good game. Now find your name for your position, and remember if you’re at the back and you run forward, you've gotta let your team know so they can change positions".
The team ran out on the field, and he cheered and guided from the sidelines. I watched my daughter forget everything he said and just follow the ball. The rest of the team had varied success at following his instructions. Half time... The team regroup, another pep talk... and they're ready! Off they run again with incremental improvements. They didn’t win, but there's always next time...
Building better teams
There were a couple of key elements that brought about incremental improvement for the team.
?? First, the leader set the direction. The coach was present, mindful of the team’s capabilities, and empowered them with a plan of play.
?? Second, the team needed to know their roles. It’s a team sport, not a solo sport. As I watched my daughter run after the ball, she exhausted herself and confused the play. When everyone dropped back into their positions, they worked better as a team.
?? Third, communication was critical. Clear direction and communication on passing the ball and moving through the field was essential for success. Not only from the coach, but among the players.
领英推荐
In sport, as in real life ??
Sporting analogies never got old when it comes to teamwork, right? Watching my daughter and her teammates reminded me of the awesome things we can accomplish when working together towards a common goal. It’s these moments of connection and collaboration that truly make a difference, both on the field and in the workplace.
And my gorgeous girl, put her hand up to try out goalie, when another team member got hurt. So on with the gloves, after never playing before and she did really well. She even scored herself player of the match. Great effort Harps.
Would you like a free gift from me?
I’m giving away a FREE guide: 5 Key Ideas to Powerfully Connect with your Team (and beyond).
If this could help you and your team, just type YES in the comments and I’ll send you the free download.
ABOUT?KIRRYN ZERNA
Kirryn Zerna is passionate about helping leaders, teams and brands cultivate deeper connections in the digital age to cultivate high performance, revitalise culture and put people’s passion into action. She would love to help you imagine and create a remarkable and unforgettable experience for your business or leadership event. www.kirrynzerna.com
--Transformational Speaker- Priest- Sports- Tech
5 个月Metaphorically excellent...
Unlock peak performance in just one minute a day! ''VISIT MY WEBSITE'' to take your team from stress to success. 20 years as a Rapid Stress Buster, Speaker, Coach, Facilitator, and Founder of the One Minute Reset app
5 个月As a mum who has been on many a sideline of rugby, netball, hockey and more over the years, couldn't agree more Kirryn Zerna
I help men navigating the challenges of separation so they can rebuild their life with confidence and purpose. Saving them Time, Money and Stress!
5 个月Great article, Kirryn! As a sports coach, and this applies to business as well, I like to add that players need willing to fulfil their role and step into other players' roles when needed. Too often I see a bunch of talented players who are able but not willing to go the extra mile and abdicate responsibility and therefore are not effective as a team. Sometimes it is better to have a team of great team players with sufficient skills than a group of brilliant players who are not prepared to work as a team.
Retired University Lecturer at Various | Consultation, Capacity Building, Community Engagement
5 个月yes YES
?? Entertaining Keynotes ?? Team Wellbeing Specialist ?? Reduce the Stress ?? Stop the Churn ?? Improve Team Harmony
5 个月I didn't have many of my kids in sport and regret they didn't have these experiences. thanks for this insightful article