It’s “We Are the Champions,” Not “I Am the Champion”
You’ve seen this movie before.
It’s the championship basketball game. The underdogs are down by one point, there’s one second on the clock, and the top foul shooter in the country steps up to the line. All he needs to do is make the same shot he hasn’t missed all season and his team stays alive.
He thinks: “I’ve got it. This is all on me, and I’m the best at this in the country.” He’s on the foul line. He releases. And…
He misses. I missed.
But wait! You’ve also seen this movie before: out of nowhere my best friend jumps up like a bolt, tips in the rebound and we win the championship at the buzzer.
Only a second passed between when I took my shot and when we ultimately won the game. But in that second—the time it took for me to miss my shot and for my friend to have my back and still win us the game—I learned a lesson that’s lasted a lifetime.
It’s not all about me.
You can’t build a championship team unless you have a team. It sounds so simple, and yet so many of us in business and in life are quick to forget the “team” part as we obsess over chasing down the championship.
And it’s putting together winning teams that leaves behind a legacy of leadership. Great coaches or team leaders unite amazing, talented stars. And they know it’s not a loss when the people you helped develop move on—at least not if you understand the value of creating a culture of success.
When you’re a leader who embraces this approach, not only are you creating opportunities for others. You’re also elevating the game (or industry), making the experience better for everyone, including our customers.
But as much as I learned in my playing days, I’ve learned even more from working with some of the most successful coaches in the country. Up next, I’ll share the top three lessons I picked up from coaches over the years.
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