Teamwork Lessons Learned — Both On and Off The Field

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” –Henry Ford

I have never in my life played a team sport until five years ago. I didn’t know really anything about soccer — what to wear, not a clue on how to put on shinguards, the definition of offsides — much less been or watched a Sounders game. I was just tired of running the same loop day after day around my neighborhood. So I decided to swallow my pride, allow myself to look like a fool in front of others and try something new. I simply showed up, asked someone which direction I should be running and stepped out onto the field.

Sports participation has been an incredible gift I never expected — it has provided me to be a better leader, a better business owner, and even a better person. It’s taught me a lot about teamwork and overcoming failure in order to reach success. It has also taught me that no one wins alone.

A soccer team cannot be successful with just one “ringer.” The whole team has to work as a unit with a common goal in mind. As a team…

• Each player has to perform and give their best for success.
• Understand their teammates strengths, weaknesses, and gifts (and concentrate on what they do best and what they bring to the game).
• Allow for appropriate timing for decisions.
• Work together with their teammates for the best outcome for all — words of encouragement, pushing them to be a stronger performer, celebrating the wins, and supporting one another over a loss.
• You have to work as an individual and as a group — you can’t compete against one another and expect to win. All must focus on the goal and check their egos and personal agendas at the door for success.

Businesses are similar…even if you have a superstar on your team, the business is not successful just because of one person. It’s a collaborative effort by all involved and all who actively participate.

Being a part of this team pictured above helped with my motivational skills, team building skills, and the ability to see projects through to completion. It once again taught me that nothing ventured, nothing gained. And that trying something new, and taking a risk, sometimes turns into one of the best decisions of your life.

And on a side note, we won that the game.