There are several phrases which have become leadership axioms regarding teamwork:
- Teamwork makes the dream work.
- You can accomplish more with “we” than “me”.
- One can put a thousand to flight. Two can put ten thousand to flight.
- There is no “i” in team.
I honestly think John Maxwell came up with the first two statements but regardless, these quotes are part of every leader’s stump speech.
One of the best executives in pro sports is Baltimore Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome. Ozzie is a great leader. Just one year after winning the Super Bowl, Newsome now has the task of rebuilding the Ravens offense. In 2013, the offense finished 29th of 32 teams in total yards and 25th in points scored.
Recently, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com did a feature on Newsome and the Ravens offensive needs heading into the 2014 season. You can read the full article by clicking here.
As I read the post, I gleaned the following 7 Practices Of Leaders Who Build Great Teams:
- Leaders Who Build Great Teams Spend Money To Acquire Talent – The Ravens have $28 million in cap space to spend on free agents.
- Leaders Who Build Great Teams Build Around Their Top Talent – The Ravens still have Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco at quarterback. To help Flacco succeed, the team has already signed tight end Dennis Pitta and plan to add more pieces.
- Leaders Who Build Great Teams Have Unified Leadership – Newsome is having an untold number of conversations with head coach John Harbaugh. Newsome says, “[Coach John Harbaugh] and I have had several conversations of what we think we need to do to get our offense better…He and I are very much on the same page.”
- Leaders Who Build Great Teams Continually Add More Leaders – Newsome hired the former head coach of the Houston Texans, Gary Kubiak, as the team’s offensive coordinator.
- Leaders Who Build Great Teams Build A Solid Foundation First – Great teams are built from the inside out. One of Newsome’s top priorities is upgrading the offensive line.
- Leaders Who Build Great Teams Are Patient – Hiring people quickly out of need can be dangerous. Newsome does not necessarily want to make an initial splash when the free agent period begins. Newsome lets the market die down and then selects the right players at the right price.
- Leaders Who Build Great Teams Are Willing To Change – Though Newsome has shown patience in the past, he has now indicated he may be more aggressive this off-season to get the players he needs.
Spend Money To Acquire Talent, Build Around Your Top Talent, Have Leadership Unity, Add More Leaders, Build A Solid Foundation First, Have Patience and Be Willing To Change. If you practice these 7 items, you may be a Leader Who Builds Great Teams.
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