March Madness is in full swing. Many of us have been watching and come away with either joy or disappointment.
Favored teams (Gonzaga ranked #1) have been eliminated while underdogs (Wichita State) have become unanticipated Cinderella teams.
I heard a commentator say that it’s not the team with the best players who wins but the team with the five players who play best together.
I have coached teams that have individual high performers and yet do not function highly as a team. When the team sees itself as a unified system, different than a collection of talented individuals, it performs at its best.
This distinction is critical to success. While each person has their role, understanding the overall team dynamic matters.
As we see in basketball, the shooter, passer, rebounder and defensive specialist each has a role. They all have to align and move strategically together in order to win.
There are team agreements, designed plays and a team purpose. These system elements create the foundation for the players to play well together. Winning becomes more likely and can occur against improbable odds.
How well is your team playing?