Stop Treating Your Employees Like Champion Sports Teams.

The Philadelphia Eagles have won the Super Bowl. In the interviews, I watched before, during, and after the game, coaches and players alike talked about how it was a team effort. Even the owner, Jeffery Lurie, spoke about the 300 behind-the-scenes personnel who made this happen.

And it is easy to think, “If I do what the great teams of my generation do, my teams will excel as well.”

Don’t do it.

Your employees are not highly paid athletes. ?They aren’t dedicating their whole life to reaching the pinnacle of their profession. You are not giving them a bonus of $171,000 for achieving their goals. They are not the best performers in the world, probably not even in the top fifteen percent. Raving fans are not cheering for them (and you) at the end of the day.

It just isn’t the same.

However, I have some ideas to help you have a champion team.

¨? It starts with culture. No matter how strong your team is, if values and behaviors aren’t aligned, your goals will always be out of reach. In every championship team, I have seen interviewed, they always talk about what it felt like in the locker room, on the practice field, and in coaches’ offices.

¨? A shared purpose is critical. Everyone on your team needs to work towards the same goal. Your shared purpose needs to be easily understood, and something people are willing to work towards. In champion sports, it is easy to define the goal; everyone knows before the season begins, but not so much in work unless you consistently communicate it.

¨? Work is a team sport. No matter anybody’s role in your organization, they are essential to its success and should be respected for the value they bring to the workplace. I love that Jeffery Lurie called out the 300 people who made winning possible.

¨? Creating a sense of oneness. We don’t do this by giving everyone a cheap T-shirt and asking them to wear it. We do this by creating a sense of belonging to something bigger than the individual. We do this by respecting differences and including everyone in their rewards.

¨? Focus on Improvement. Two years ago, the Eagles lost to the Chiefs; the team had to get better if they were going to win. Suppose we want to have better outcomes year after year. In that case, we must dedicate ourselves to improving our teams, providing them with the necessary training, knowledge building, and improved systems to help them reach a higher level of performance.

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So, the big question is, “What are you doing to create a winner atmosphere in your organization?” Let me know at [email protected]. If you aren’t sure, let’s work together to figure out a plan so your organization can hold the trophy at the end of next year’s season.

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John Thalheimer

CEO and Leadership Coach

True Star Leadership