“Skill alone does not equate to talent” and 10 Other Lessons On Teamwork From Nick Saban

I recently reread Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban‘s 2005 book entitled How Good Do You Want To Be? A Champion’s Tips On How To Lead And Succeed.  It is an incredible resource!

During one section, Coach Saban shared his following 11 Lessons On Teamwork:

1. There is no “I” in team but there is an “I” in win.  Coach Saban preaches individual responsibility.  His teams perform their best when individuals put the group first and do what is best for the team.
2. Everything you do, you do to the team.  This speaks to personal responsibility and accountability.
3. Get out of yourself and into the team.  Coach Saban wants his players to rise above their own selfishness and ambitions and dissolve themselves into the team.
4. Don’t forget the fundamentals.  This can be lost in the rush to prepare.
5. You can have no flickering lights.  The torch must be fully lit when passed from the upperclassmen to the underclassmen.
6. Do not allow mistakes to go uncorrected.  You must evaluate the previous game and ensure mistakes are corrected for the upcoming game.
7. Having skill is not having talent.  Brilliant!  Coach Saban says, “Skill alone does not equate to talent.  Talent is putting skills into productive use.”
8. You must trust, not just believe.  Belief is trust that is firm.  Are you willing to put your success in someone else’s hands?
9. Sometimes what is best for the individual is not what is best for the team.  Winning is not the only thing.  How you win matters just as much.
10. Teams must takes ownership of themselves and their personalities.  The most successful teams have a culture where all the members have a say.
11. Teams that play together often end up lucky.  Coach Saban firmly believes in luck but you must put yourself in position to be lucky.  The luckiest teams are the teams that play well together.

What is one lesson from Coach Saban which you can implement today to make your team more effective?

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To receive more leadership insights from Coach Saban, click HERE or on the image to the left for my new ebook The Leadership Of Nick Saban: Timeless Truths From The Incomparable Head Coach Of The Alabama Crimson Tide.  Enjoy!