9 Things You Need To Build A Great Team

Great leaders are great team builders.  It is a fundamental reality you can accomplish more with a team than you can alone.  “We” is a greater force for good than “me”.  This is one of the many lessons we are learning from the United States Mens National Soccer Team as they compete in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, this year’s squad is generally considered the greatest team in U.S. men’s soccer history.  So how did Klinsmann construct such a talented squad?  We are given a glimpse into the process through a June 28th USA Today article which you can read in full by clicking here .

Regardless of if you lead a church, business, non-profit or sports team, the following are 9 Things You Need To Build A Great Team gleaned from the article which can help you achieve greater success:

1. To Build A Great Team The Leader Must Have A Clear Vision – There is little doubt this is Klinsmann’s team.  It is made in his image and reflects his personality and approach to soccer.
2. To Build A Great Team You Must Upgrade Your Personnel – Upgrading talent means improving current performance and/or changing your personnel.  Only six players remain from the 2010 World Cup roster.
3. To Build A Great Team Find Under-Valued And Undiscovered Talent Missed By Others – Do you have an eye for talent?  Great teams are often made up of individuals other people miss.  Midfielder Kyle Beckerman played only 10 matches for the U.S. team from 2007-09.  Fellow teammates Mix Diskerud, Omar Gonzalez, Graham Zusi, and Chris Wondolwoski played a combined 11 matches entering 2013.
4. To Build A Great Team You Must Invest In Talented Young People – Klinsmann added eight players under 25 years old to the World Cup team.  These eight players should form the nucleus of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup teams.
5. To Build A Great Team You Must Make Tough And Unpopular Decisions – Klinsmann decided Landon Donovan, the most decorated player in U.S. soccer history, should not be on the team.  As unpopular as the decision was, it has proven to be the correct call.
6. To Build A Great Team You Must Put Team Success Over Individual Accolades – Klinsmann feared Donovan would become bigger than the team itself.  This ran against the culture Klinsmann was hoping to create.  Veterans would make the squad but only those who put the team first.
7. To Build A Great Team Everyone Must Make Sacrifices – Klinsmann’s approach to leadership is to make “the decision to sacrifice one for the good of many.”
8. To Build A Great Team Veterans Must Lead By Putting The Team First – Klinsmann clearly defined the expectations for veteran players such as goalie Tim Howard and captain Clint Dempsey.  Because this is Klinsmann’s team, everyone plays a role and stays within the team concept.  No one rocks the boat.  The team has no stars (at least in Klinsmann’s eyes).
9. To Build A Great Team The Leader Must Pay The Greatest Price – Klinsmann has been extremely controversial in interviews discussing America’s limited chances of success.  His logic which was roundly criticized by the media put the pressure on himself, rather than his team.  While initially head-scratching and counter-cultural, it has proven to be a successful strategy.

Have A Clear Vision, Upgrade Personnel, Find Undiscovered Talent, Invest In Young Talent, Make Tough And Unpopular Decisions, Put Team Success First, Make Sacrifices, Have Generous Veterans, and Pay A Great Price.  If you do these 9 things, you too may lead the best team in your organization’s history.

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