What Sports Can Teach Us About Company Culture in Business

Do You Have ‘Staff’ or a ‘Team’??

Referring to your employees as a team has become common business terminology. Used interchangeably with terms like staff, crew, and workforce, the word choice is rarely given a second thought- even though culturally speaking, teams are more strongly associated with sports than they are with business enterprises.

But let's stop and take a moment to consider why we use the word "team" when we talk about the people who make up our businesses, what the word can teach us about the importance of?company culture , and what sports can teach us about business management.

Let’s break it down…

"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships." - Michael Jordan

How Is a ‘Team’ Different From ‘Staff’?

As defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "a team is a number of persons associated together in work or activity." When used as an adjective, the word refers to being "of or performed by a team" and emphasizes a group's effort rather than an individual's.

The dictionary defines staff as "the personnel who assist a director in carrying out an assigned task."

So, what's the key difference?

The difference is in the culture – it's in the "how" of how work gets done. A team accomplishes work together, while a staff accomplishes work in any manner they see fit.

The difference between ‘staff’ and a team is that staff take on tasks individually while team members strategize together and make plays together. They pass the ball. They're rewarded for assists. Team members work together to win together.

On the other hand, staff members work alone toward individual goals. They're rewarded for meeting individual benchmarks. The tasks a staff member accomplishes aren't necessarily tied to a greater purpose. These tasks don't necessarily provide any fulfillment beyond tackling a to-do list.

Why Does the Difference Even Matter? The Importance of Company Culture...

According to the renowned psychologist and sports author, producer, and columnist, Jim Taylor Ph.D., "A culture is the expression of a team's values, attitudes, and goals about sports, competition, and relationships...Team culture is so important because it directly influences many areas that affect team functioning and performance."?

Taylor explains that culture defines the norms of acceptable behavior, communication, conflict resolution, and cooperation, and he points out that, in turn, culture creates an atmosphere that permeates everything within a team's organization. That atmosphere can be positive, negative, supportive, or discouraging.

Culture can make or break a team in sports. In business, company culture can mean the difference between success and failure.

Cultivating a positive workplace culture not only helps to keep individual employees engaged and happy at work, thereby improving?employee retention , but it can actually have a direct impact on productivity and your bottom line.

"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.”-Babe Ruth?

How Do You Turn a Staff Member Into a Team Player? Build Company Culture Into Your Business Strategy

When cultivating culture, Taylor believes that coaches should actively create a culture that encourages growth on both the team and individual level, strives for success, and isn't afraid to have fun along the way.?

He explains that leaders can build this type of culture by focusing on three pillars: a team's or, in your case-- your company's values, attitudes, and goals.

Values

He defines values as standards of behavior and principles. Values are the things that we choose to prioritize as important. Values should help guide your decisions and those of your team members each day.?

In your business, do you prioritize recruiting the right person for a job or the one that looks best on paper? Do you value an individual's high performance over teamwork? Do you provide your employees with opportunities for professional and personal growth? How is your business connected to your community?

Read the full article here: https://www.growthforce.com/blog/sports-company-culture-business