Talents can win games but it is teamwork and intelligence that win championships.
During an interview some years ago, Kobe Bryant was asked how Coach Phil Jackson was able to manage him and Shaquille O’Neal. The question was because Phil, Kobe and Shaq all had strong characters- what people call Alpha males.
Kobe responded that Phil Jackson was more interested in getting the boat to the shore than just focusing on one player. It was about getting the team to a place to win titles, not just to appease one player. Phil understood the character of Kobe and Shaq and so knew how to create a wedge between them, with the goal of getting the whole team to win the championship.
You see, no matter how talented Lionel Messi is, he can’t win any game if he plays alone. No matter how skilful Lebron James is, he can’t take the Lakers past the playoff if he played alone. Granted that their ingenuity could be fundamental in winning games, but if they fail to play with the team, losing is inevitable.
Building a team can be quite tasking for any leader. Having all the elements with the right competencies you need in your team is hard. Making all of them work for a common goal even harder. So, you must develop the ability to harness everyone’s potential without making them feel inferior or neglected.
The press always asks aspiring public office holders what they intend to do in their first 100 days in office. And after 100 days, they also want to know what they’ve accomplished.
So, during a press conference on his 100th day in office as the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg was asked the same question.
His response was, ”I got ready for the next 1,000. People always want to rush to the end game, but the most important thing is to lay the basis, the framework, build the infrastructure, get the tools in place and then I guess sit back and let the people that you pick actually do the job.”
The press responded, “Yes, but what did you accomplish?” And he replied, “I built my team.” They never got the concept.
The organs of the human body can be likened to what teamwork should look like. Every organ/tissue of the body understands her role and seeks to perform the same without grudges. They also understand their value, knowing that their optimal performance helps the other organ perform optimally too.
The brain then sort of leads the entire team, coordinating the activities of each organ/tissue. So, people management is a skill set every leader must possess. The book of 1 Corinthians 12 perfectly describes this – even the supposedly feeble members are necessary.
Also, a leader should not entertain any fear because he knows less than his followers. You are a leader for good reasons, but it’s unlikely that being the best in the team is one of them. So, knowing your onions matter, but feeling threatened because some members of the team know better in a given area is fatal for you and for the entire team.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.”
AFRICAN PROVERB
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May God bless and preserve you in Jesus name. Amen.
Effective leaders build a team and encourage teamwork.
