The Most Intriguing Thing About Leadership

Teamwork…I love having it, I’ll work hard to obtain it, and I will fight on behalf of it! Nothing about leadership intrigues me more than the power of a team. Today I want to share a couple of my favorite perspectives on teamwork from two highly-respected leaders who really “get” the concept and purpose of a team.

In his book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, noted author and speaker Patrick Lencioni has a great message and platform on teamwork, saying that “teamwork remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare.” One of my favorite concepts that Lencioni points out in his book is that there are “groups” and there are “teams.” Groups go to work and do tasks. Teams are aligned and tied to a common vision and a shared purpose. Teams work together to accomplish the same goals!

And speaking of goals, one of my all-time favorite quotes about teamwork is by Mia Hamm, soccer player and two-time Olympic gold medalist, who says the following in her book, Go for the Goal:

“Soccer is not an individual sport. I don’t score all the goals, and the ones I do score are usually the product of a team effort. I don’t keep the ball out of the back of the net on the other end of the field. I don’t plan our game tactics. I don’t wash our training gear, and I don’t make our airline reservations. I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team. I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.”

Wow! That is a powerful statement. As leaders, we must understand the value that a team brings not only to an organization, but to every member of the team, and the rewards that come from the sacrifice and dedication in being part of one.