HOW TO BUILD BETTER TEAMS

Manilka Ediriweera examines parallels in sporting and corporate successes

There are countless similarities between businesses and sports teams. Sport isn’t simply about glory and entertainment; and there are many vital lessons that we can learn from it, as well as applying those in our organisations and careers.

Like any enterprise, the sporting arena is a highly competitive space where there’s camaraderie, close calls, rivalries, gut-wrenching losses and euphoric successes. Sport has many lessons to offer in areas such as leadership, teamwork, strategy, goal setting, stress and change management, and more. These practices can be applied to today’s dynamic business world too.

Here are a few lessons that business leaders can learn from some of the most outstanding sporting achievers and teams.

DIVERSITY There are many personalities operating in both the sports and work environ­ments. A diverse team will bring more variety, perspectives and creativity to provide different ways of solving problems. This is a major strength because perceptions vary.

For example, the rise of overseas players in English football plays a significant role in how the sport operates with players such as Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka. And Gareth Southgate led England’s national team to its first major tourna­ment final since 1966.

As Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said, “what seems so amazing to me is how he varies it; he mixes it up and plays a different series of options depending on the match in question.”

UNITY One of the best moments in the sporting arena recently took place at the 2020 Olympic Games when Mutaz Essa Barshim for Qatar and Gian­marco Tamberi of Italy agreed to share the Gold in the men’s high jump.

They came to this decision after the two athletes could not outdo each other round after round. The lesson for us is that victories are not always about beating or dominating our opponents.

STRATEGY When Sir Alex Ferguson assumed duties as the manager of the Manchester United Football Club in 1986, it was in dire trouble after not having won a league title for about 20 years. It was also on the verge of being relegated to a lower division.

One of Sir Alex’s moves was to establish two ‘centres of excellence’ wherein he signed up top young talent such as David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.

What he did was to build the club from its foundation up and ensure a continuous supply of talent. He created a sense of family within the team, and brought in stability and consistency. What Sir Alex implemented was essentially a long-term investment strategy that transformed the club and its community, and delivered enduring results and value.

COMPETITION Athletes and sports teams are highly competitive; they spend most of their time undergoing tough physical regimes, practising, strategising, and working to improve and develop.

If they stand still instead of constantly learning, developing and improving their strengths, they’ll be beaten by someone who does – which is why every second counts in sport and business. Only then is it possible to grow as individuals, teams and organisations while staying on top of the game.

The better you become at what you’re doing, the more competitive you’ll become.

ACCOUNTABILITY Set high standards and hold everyone accountable. As leaders, it is crucial to set high expectations and standards, and motivate the team to achieve the vision and goals of the organisation. It’s critical to ensure that everything you do is focussed on maintaining these standards.

It is here that the value of accountability comes in – because to deliver on goals, everyone must be committed and stay true to the values inculcated within the team. If that’s the leader’s work ethic, it will eventually spread throughout the team or workplace.

TEAMWORK Whether in sports or business, it’s vital to rely on teamwork to advance. For instance, there is a crew that supports Formula 1 drivers; this team includes pit crews, race engineers, mechanics, trainers and nutritionists.

On countless occasions, athletes have sacrificed personal glory in scoring a point, goal or run by assisting a teammate who had a better chance of doing so. When building relationships and trust within the team, there are increased opportunities for collaboration and gain.

As pro baseball legend Babe Ruth once said, “the way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world but if they do not play together, the club will not be worth a dime.”

This is true in both the sporting scene and business world. As a leader therefore, it’s vital to create a culture where teamwork, trust, the learning habit, diversity and inclusion, accountability and a focus on long-term investment in sustained outcomes are embedded.