The world cup last week delivered some fantastic examples of teamwork and outstanding effort when the chips were down and the numbers are stacked against you.
Sport is like that and always has been throughout history. The underdog certainly seems to have a bite - and given the numerous occasions when a team with fewer players, injuries or sending offs manages to excel, it’s worth investigating the “how” and “why” this happens.
How?
Simple…..
They work harder and are more motivated to do what is needed. The research shows that with fewer players, the remaining players run further and faster than if they had a full complement.
Why?
This is a little more interesting and certainly more complex.
There is some evidence that when a group of well-bonded individuals has a clear and emotionally resonant goal, they will work much harder for each other and towards that goal.
When a team feels that they are at threat of having something which matters taken away from them, they become adrenalized and in the “zone”. As a result they increase their focus and there is a good evidence that they have greater physical power.
Adrenalin is a powerful hormone and even when you think you have little left to give, adrenalin will give you more. Think how teams celebrate when they have won, even though they are completely on their knees.
Interestingly, teams will often defend a lead with more passion than they will attack to win back a lead. It is believed that this is because we fight harder not to lose something that we care about, to protect what we have and to survive, much more than to pursue what we do not have.
So are there any lessons here for business teams?
Yes must be the answer - but are the teams willing to do what is required to move from being a group of individuals to a REAL TEAM? It is common in sport and rare in business.
The following questions will help you assess what stage your team is at:
- Is there a clear and simple short term outcome focus (goal, vision, mission, call it what you will)?
- Does every member of the team have a powerful emotional connection with the goal or vision?
- Is the goal greater than the individual…Does it really matter?
- Does every member of the team have “skin in the game?”
- Would every member of the team give up of themselves to enable the team to achieve?
- Do the members of the team know each other more than skin deep?
- Do the members of the team really care about each other?
- Is every member of the team trusting and trusted completely?
- Is there is a simple and clear strategy to achieve the goal?
If your answer is no…then start working hard in each area or stay as a ‘group’ rather than a ‘team’. You will still achieve plenty, but you will never make the back pages.
By John Neal, psychophysiologist and a member of faculty and director of the Sport Business Initiative at Ashridge Executive Education, Hult International Business School
