Lessons from the soccer field: Building stronger teams

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.

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.

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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