Money-Making High-Performance Teams and Baseball Wisdom

There's something magical about an optimally performing team. It's not a myth that on a true team the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts. That's why team sports are so appealing. We are watching history unfold as a group of men or women work in total unity with a concerted effort towards one goal. But if you've ever coached a team you know that teaching technique is the easy part. Motivating a player to optimal performance is the tough part. So how do you do it? Specifically, how do we coach or train a person in our organization or business so that they fit into a highly motivated team? Here are some tips.

First, use the language of "WE." It's what Lamotrigine call "teamthink." From the beginning of orientation it's not about me or "the company"...it's about "we" and the team. I, me, my, versus us, we, our is a very powerful distinction. Either you are going to succeed using your people or your people are going to succeed together with you in the lead. "Let's do this..." "Our goal is..." "When we all work together..." "Let's win this..." etc. etc. I remember the theme song quote on car insurance the World Series Baseball team I pitched for. It was "We are family..." by Sly and the Family Stone. That's how it should be in your organization or business...a team or family of committed people. Not just a bunch of individuals looking out for themselves. It starts with how we talk.

Next, find a niche position for everyone. That's the beauty of baseball. There are distinct positional skills needed all over the field. You need the lightning quick, strong-armed third baseman, the smart quick-thinking second baseman, the solid, defensive strategist catcher, and so on. Every position has a unique set of gifts and abilities that make each person invaluable on a team. That means that that we make sure that each person on our team is placed exactly where their strengths will fly. You'll have the bean counters, administrative whizzes, your 1st impression specialists, your creative rebels, your stubborn technicians, your leaders and more. Individually, some of them cheapest loan rates seem rather boring or unnecessary, BUT on a team, they are essential. The bring an expertise and talent to just the right area of your endeavor that you need. And when you keep them coordinated and focused...it's like a symphony.

A commitment to equipping each position is key. That means training. A person will give you 100% when they feel like they are being valued and appreciated and invested in. Be sure to provide the specific training that sharpens and builds into your people. At practice the great teams will separate into positions and allow each position to focus intensely on the specific skills of that position. Catchers field 200 wild pitches and 20 bunts, the outfielders run down 100 flyballs and hit their cut-off man on the throw in, the infielders work with grounders, special plays, and accuracy of their throws, the pitchers tune up their arms and then spend time fielding and running (and running and running...not allowed to get tired)
Then the team is pulled together for team plays and everyone feels prepared and valued.

Also, everyone is taught team offense. Each person on your team needs to know how their contribution moves the company/organization towards achieving it's goals. In baseball, everyone goes up to bat and often times the fate of the entire team can be put in the hands of a single at-bat by someone. You might need a bunt, sacrifice fly, single to the opposite field, or a game breaking extra-base hit. And you never know who will be up to bat when that moment comes. So you prepare your team offense and make sure that everyone can do their job when called upon.

That's one of the keys to keeping everyone motivated. You keep the focus on the big picture. And in baseball the big picture means a "W" (win). Every individual yields personal gain for the sake of the ONE team goal. A pitcher leaves the mound without throwing a tantrum, a big hitter lays down a bunt, a starter gives way to a pinch runner, and many more acts of sacrifice to move towards victory. That means that you make the heroes of your office the ones who contribute to the team. You lift up acts of sacrifice and hard work. You recognize the efforts that contribute toward a win. One key to keeping the big picture in mind is celebrating wins. Every win should be a time to cheer and recognize the team play that got you there.

What happens when you start doing this? First you'll feel a sense of loyalty from your people. They will not want to play for anyone but you. Why? Because they know that while you keep your eye on the big picture, you know that it takes a team to get there. And for a team to perform, individuals must be taken care of, trained, praised, and valued. Everyone must feel s sense of loyalty to each other because they can see how each one fits into the scheme of a victory. And best of all, when a person wakes up on Monday morning and they get into their car, they are excited about going to work. They approach what they do with a passion. And when a group of passionate people get together, they can achieve great things.

I'll never forget the captain of my championship summer league team (the Ujimori Hawks). He was 35 years old (seemed ancient to a 19 yr. old pitcher) and played for the love of the game. He was also a great athlete. He would call us together before we ran out to start a game and we would put our hands together in the huddle and he would say, "15 players, but one heartbeat!" Your business or organization will determine what that heartbeat is...but it must be shared by all to be a true high performance team. One team. One heartbeat.

Mark Olmos has been serving people for 30 years and now helps people set up their own successful home businesses. You can find his website at: www.1team1heartbeat.comwww.1team1heartbeat.com