Motivate Your Team! Cheer Up A Friend! Inspire Yourself!
Motivate Your Team! Cheer Up A Friend! Inspire Yourself!
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| Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 13 | Issue 752 |
| Craig Impelman Speaking | Championship Coaches | Champion's Leadership Library Login | |
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"BE ALL IN FOR THE TEAM GOAL" John Wooden Video Clip (2 min. 18 sec.): Coach Wooden defines Intentness. In more than 70 years of men’s college basketball there have only been ten undefeated teams, seven coaches have led teams to perfect seasons. Six of those coaches did it once. John Wooden did it four times. Part of his remarkable results came from having great talent. A sometimes-overlooked reason is that Coach Wooden consistently guided highly talented players to adjust their roles to serve the team’s goal.
On his 1964 undefeated team, forward Keith Erickson, a dynamic slashing high-volume scorer, focused on defense and rebounding so his teammate future NBA Hall of Fame guard Gail Goodrich could flourish.
On the 1967 undefeated team, guard Mike Warren shifted from high-volume scoring to distributing the ball to his teammate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor).
On the 1972 and 1973 undefeated teams, which went a combined 60–0, Larry Farmer, a high-wire scoring acrobat, focused on defense and rebounding so his future NBA Hall of Fame teammates Bill Walton and Jamaal Wilkes could score at their top potential.
These players achieved perfect seasons because they accepted adjusted roles and performed them with enthusiasm and effectiveness. Coach Wooden made sure they understood what their roles were and why those roles mattered. He also consistently recognized their contributions.
This pattern extends beyond basketball. In high-performing teams, whether in business, the military, entertainment, music or sports, talented individuals take on the role most needed for the group to succeed, even when it differs from their personal preference. My favorite musical group, The Temptations (with sales of over 22 million albums), who adjusted their roles depending on the song, are another great example. Here are five ideas for team success:
1. Commit to the role you are given
Teams require different contributions from different people. The role may not match your strengths or preferences, but it is tied to the team’s success. Commitment is demonstrated through execution of that role.
2. Bring enthusiasm to the role, not just the outcome
It is easy to be enthusiastic about winning. The standard is to bring that same energy to the work required to win. Enthusiasm tied only to results is inconsistent; enthusiasm applied to the role is reliable.
3. Support the success of others as part of the goal
Team success often depends on others performing at a high level. Contributing to that success—directly or indirectly—is part of the role. As John Wooden said, "Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own."
4. Stay consistent regardless of recognition
Not every role receives equal attention. Contribution is not always visible. Enthusiastic consistent effort, regardless of recognition, is a requirement for team success.
5. Commit to the plan once it is set
Teams may not always agree on the approach, but alignment is necessary for execution. A uniform commitment leads to eliminating hesitation and creating consistency (needed for a perfect season).
"It’s amazing how much can be accomplished if no one is concerned with who gets the credit." – John Wooden
Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman
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Sonnet 116
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
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