Teamwork makes the dream work. You can accomplish more with we than me. There’s no “I” in team. We win together, we lose together. It’s all about the team.
Let’s be honest, we have all heard these teambuilding axioms. They are part of every successful leader’s verbiage and thinking. The question becomes how do you build a great team with great team chemistry?
In the August 27 – September 3, 2108 edition of Sports Illustrated, writer Emma Baccellieri wrote an excellent article on the Oakland A’s and their healthy team chemistry. In fact, the team attributed their success to its chemistry.
As I read Emma’s article, I gleaned the following 9 Things That Build Great Team Chemistry:
- Teams With Great Chemistry Have Stable Leadership – Constant turnover in leadership does not build a stable culture. Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Billy Beane has been running the team for two decades. His right hand man David Forst has been along his side for a decade-and-a-half. Finally, Bob Melvin has managed the team for seven seasons.
- Teams With Great Chemistry Build Off Their Previous Success – A continual series of successes builds momentum. Forst said, “We knew the way we played the last two months of the season last year that we were hopefully going to get better.”
- Teams With Great Chemistry Have The Right People On The Team – A’s player Blake Treinan said, “Everybody in the big leagues is talented; you’ve just got to get the right guys in and mesh as a team.”
- Teams With Great Chemistry Are Always Innovating – As seen in the movie Moneyball, Beane specialized in finding low-priced, under-valued talent. Things become challenging when every team in the majors now attempts the same approach. Beane is therefore looking for the next advantage in team building.
- Teams With Great Chemistry Finish Well – At the time of the article, the team was 51-0 when leading after after seven innings.
- Teams With Great Chemistry Work Hard – As I mentioned in my book Timeless, 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders, great leaders work hard, very hard. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy said, “We’ve got guys who I call ‘blue-collar grinders.’ Guys who just play hard…”
- Teams With Great Chemistry Have Dedicated Space For Building A Sense Of Community – The Oakland A’s would tell you chemistry is best built in scarcity, not abundance. The Oakland-Alemeda County Coliseum where the A’s play has none of modern conveniences of today’s newer stadiums. In fact, everyone is consolidated into a single room. Shortstop Marcus Semiem said, “This place is different from most clubhouses. It’s the only room here. There’s not a players’ lounge or multiple rooms where people can hang out, so I think that has a lot to do with why we’re so close.”
- Teams With Great Chemistry Are Tight – Lucroy added, “are good teammates with good chemistry. I think that’s why we’re playing so well, because of how tight we are.”
- Teams With Great Chemistry Have A Competitive Edge – They are close and win close games. At the date of the article, the A’s had a .722 winning percentage in one-run games.
What is one thing you learned which will help you build better team chemistry?
Also, my book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase. If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you! By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you. This book is not to be read alone. Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence. Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.