Everyone wants to be part of a great team and culture. The question becomes how do you create such a healthy work environment? The answer to this question is largely answered in the video above.
As I watched the 2016 (pre-Kevin Durant) feature of the Golden State Warriors, I gleaned the following are 20 Things Necessary To Build A Great Team And Culture:
- To Build A Great Team And Culture You Need A Cornerstone Leader – Commissioner David Stern said these famous words, “With the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select Stephen Curry from Davidson College.”
- Great Teams and Cultures Happen When Potential Meets Hard Work – Former teammate Kelenna Azubuike said, “As soon as he got in I could see the potential. The work ethic was there.”
- Great Teams and Cultures Have Great Owners – Joe Lacob and Peter Guber bought the team for a then-record $460 million.
- Great Teams and Cultures Have High Expectations And Set Lofty Goals – Noticing only one championship banner hanging in its rafters, Lacob told the Warriors fans, “That is very lonely flag. We want another one.”
- You Do Not Create Culture. You Hire Culture. – Legendary NBA executive Jerry West was added as an Executive Board Member
- Real Recognizes Real. Great Teams and Cultures Can Spot Talent. – With West playing a key role in player evaluation,Klay Thompson was added with the 11th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
- Great Teams and Cultures Proactively Remove People Who Do Not Fit The Culture – Fan-favorite Monte Ellis was traded to create more room and playing time for Curry.
- Great Teams and Cultures Hire Great Young Talent – In the 2012 NBA Draft, the Warriors added Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli, and future all-star Draymond Green.
- Great Teams and Cultures Attract Great Leaders – Everyone wants to be part of a winner. Andre Igoudala wanted to play for them.
- Becoming A Great Team And Culture Is A Process – Before winning multiple NBA championships, the Warriors had 50 wins in the 2013-2014 season.
- Great Teams and Cultures Have Leaders With High Emotional Intelligence – Steve Kerr was hired as head coach partly because he is so good with people.
- Great Teams and Cultures Develop Young Leaders – Thompson and Green became all-stars.
- Great Teams and Cultures Are Unselfish – The teammates are committed to each other’s success.
- Great Teams and Cultures Have Great Chemistry – They like each other.
- Great Teams and Cultures Have Great Depth – The team has a number of leaders.
- The Top Performers Are The Hardest Workers On Great Teams and Cultures – Curry was the last guy out of the gym every day.
- People Continually Improve On Great Teams and Cultures – Every year Curry got better.
- Even Great Teams and Cultures Need Serendipity To Play A Role – The Warriors drafted three all-stars with the 7th pick or lower. Lacob said, “A lot of things have to go right. We have to stay healthy.”
- Great Teams and Cultures Are Never Complacent – The Warriors play with a heightened sense of urgency.
- Great Teams and Cultures Position Themselves For Long-Term Success – The Warriors are positioned to dominate the NBA for a decade.
After reading these 20 lessons, is it any wonder why Kevin Durant wanted to join the team following the 2016 season. What is one thing you learned from the Golden State Warriors about building a great team and culture?
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