Tuesday, June 16, 2009

This is NOT a metaphor - play team sports

Stay with me on this one. At the end of this posting there's a controversial statement which I'd love to get your comments on.

In the first posting on this blog Scott made the comment that "leaders create and foster a team environment in which all team members feel that they are valuable and respected members of the team". It reminded me of something else he said to me once, that "great [sports] teams 'get around each other' when they need to come back from behind".

Going down this path made me think of something which I often come back to. Team sports are a WEALTH of leadership guidance. How to motivate. Coaching and feedback. The power of goal alignment. The impact of the weakest link. Making sure people are in roles (positions) they're best suited to and able to succeed. And the list goes on...

There's so much to learn from team sports that I'd suggest that anyone who wants to learn leadership study or (preferably) play team sports.

Additionally, I'd suggest that observing people playing team sports tells you how they'll perform in a workplace team. Will they naturally lead? Will they "get around" the team? Will they motivate? Will they make "all team members feel that they are valuable and respected"?
Bringing this together I'd suggest the following: ONLY hire people into leadership positions if they've played team sports, and ideally go play a team sport with them as part of the job interview.

That's the controversial statement. Comments???