Is your team more like a basketball or a track team?
What’s the difference between these types of teams? Why is the difference important?
I have been a member of many basketball and track teams. Being a successful member of a track team is different than being a member of a successful basketball team.
Basketball is a team sport. At its core, track is not a team sport—it’s an individual sport.
A track “team” accumulates points when its members finish in the top six in a track event. Points are typically awarded at a big track meet as follows: first 10 pts, second 8 pts, third 6 pts, fourth 4 pts, fifth 2 pts, and sixth 1 pt.
The winning team accumulates more points than the other teams. Coaches who win the big meets have three fundamentals in common — 1) they attract talented individuals to their team; 2) they teach them the skills necessary to win their individual event(s); and 3) they peak their performances for the big meets.
The sum of the points won by the individual members determines the track team’s score. With the exception of the relay events, which require three simple baton exchanges, interaction between the members of a track team isn’t a factor on how many points the team accumulates. Track, like golf and swimming, is all about individual performance.
I was the captain of my college track team. I wanted us to win. But I realize now that, for me, winning as a team was a bonus. My primary focus was how well I performed during the meet. When I did poorly and the team won, I was upset. I didn’t feel like a contributor and the team’s victory provided little comfort. When I did well and the team didn’t, I was sad for team, but I felt like a contributor.
I felt much differently in team sports, like basketball or football or volleyball. If I did well and the team lost, I felt poorly. When I was a member of this kind of team and we won, I felt good regardless of whether I played well. Even when I warmed the bench and only cheered for the team, I felt like a contributor.
Winning basketball coaches share the first three fundamentals of winning track coaches but they must do more: They must also help members interact better with the other members so the team scores points against their opponents and stops their opponents from scoring points against them.
A basketball team is a system where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Interaction between the members of the team is just as important as individual talent to the success of the team.
A track team with the best track athletes will always defeat a team of lesser athletes. That’s not always a certainty in basketball: It often takes more than the best individuals to win. Five good basketball players who play as a team can defeat five great basketball players who play as individuals.
If you doubt me, check out the results of the 2004 Olympics. The Unites States’ team had great players but they played as individuals rather than as a team. They won the bronze medal. Argentina had less talented players than the United States but they played as a team. They won the gold medal.
Why is the difference important?
If you are managing a team of individual contributors who all report to you because the reporting structure was easy for the organization, manage like a track coach. Help your employees increase their individual skills. Help them peak for the right events. Focus more on the individual contribution and less on team contribution. You want your people to cooperate with each other and help each other. But never forget your success as a manager is based on the sum of the production of the individuals.
If you are managing a team of people who have a shared goal, manage like a basketball coach. Help people understand their role. Help them improve their skills. Help them interact better with each other. Focus on the team more than the individual. You want individuals to excel but not at expense of the team. Never forget you win based on what the production of the team.
If you need help with either type of team, I can help. Contact me.
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