The Diagram of a Winning Team: How to Create a High-Performance Workplace
In the world of collegiate basketball, March Madness is the epitome of competition, determination, and teamwork. It's a spectacle where the best of the best come together, each vying for the coveted title of champion. Yet, behind every victorious team lies a set of characteristics that propel them towards success.
Just like in March Madness, a winning team in any field, including communications, embodies certain key traits, and it’s hard to win without them:
BLUF: Every championship team has a BLUF: Bottom. Line. Up. Front. Individuals know why they are on the team, and teams know exactly what they want to see happen.
After losing three players to the NBA, the men’s UConn Huskies are looking to become the eighth team in college basketball history to win consecutive championships. Tip off tonight at 8:20pm ET.
Goodwill: In the midst of fierce competition, teamwork is paramount. A winning team is not just a group of individuals; it's a cohesive unit where each member understands their role and works in harmony towards a common objective. Team camaraderie and goodwill are core building blocks of success.
Grit: When the process of winning becomes hard, it’s not a surprise. It’s expected. Whether innate or learned, develop the determiniation to succeed.
The men’s Purdue team has a history of losing early in March Madness. Last year the Boilermakers lost to 16-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson. (ouch.) But not this year. They will play for the championship against UConn tonight.
Adaptability: Believe there is a way forward, and go find it.
Technician: “NC State men’s basketball is writing one of college basketball’s greatest stories this postseason. No ACC team had ever won five games in five days in the conference tournament until NC State did. And the Pack wasn’t satisfied with just one championship — it ripped off four straight victories to win the South Regional championship and reach the Final Four as a No. 11 seed.”
Mentorship: Everyone has something to teach or to offer to the group. When this is widely known and practiced, mentorship is multi-directional and the team’s group dynamics is a part of continuous improvement.
As South Carolina was celebrating the championship and undefeated season, two players were interviewed, Te-Hina Paopao, a senior, and Tessa Johnson, a freshman. Paopao stood with Johnson and specifically celebrated her contributions.
Revelry: Ensure that all victories — large and small — are acknowledged and enjoyed. What makes the members of your team smile? Do that, often.
Magic: Every winning team has intangible magic that comes from somewhere. Look for it and protect it.
The Mirror: LSU Coach Kim Mulkey’s fashion choices: “‘Look, we're from Louisiana, we like sparkles, we like diamonds, we like Mardi Gras, we like to eat and we like to party.’ Earlier this year, LSU held a ‘look like Kim Mulkey’ night to recognize her fashion, encouraging fans in Baton Rouge to put together the most ridiculous outfits they could find.”
Perspective: When a team comes up short on a goal, take in the wider perspective of the effort. Winning comes in many forms.
Caitlyn Clark’s Iowa team lost to South Carolina in the finals, but Clark’s overall athleticism is widely celebrated for helping to contribute to the largest viewership of women’s NCAA tournament in history.
These traits fit into three categories: vision, relationships, and mindset. These are the areas winning teams spend most of their time.