Below, I outline some of the key features of winning teams. These are equally applicable in both sport and business.
Winning teams make it safe to fail
Those teams that are most successful understand that in order to achieve, they must operate at the very edge of their capability. Pushing and striving for more. Mistakes will happen but they are viewed as individual and collective learning opportunities. Failure is recognised as not fatal or final but part of a continual process of improvement.
What’s the best mistake that you have made and why?
How do you create stress through your thinking habits?
What would your role model or mentor do in this situation?
What’s the cost of you playing safe?
What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Consistency in approach
Those teams that are most successful understand the need to show up. Every time. Consistently. They don’t practice for the sake of practice. Instead they purposefully turn off the ‘autopilot’ and practice with concentrated focus in order to get better. Remember that consistency of focused effort leads to excellence.
On a scale of 1 – 10 what is the degree of commitment that you have towards this goal?
How do you let external factors affect your ability to stay in the zone?
What would 100% look like?
What kind of champion would you be?
What support do you require?
The Limitless Mindset
Yes, these teams look for marginal gains. Incremental improvement is essential in high performance teams. However, equally important is the need for a limitless mindset. The ability to tap into our innate and limitless true potential self.
What actions can you take to get 10X better than you currently are?
Where does it need stretching?
What would you do differently if there were no restraints or limitations?
How might you be getting in your own way?
Is it possible for you to redefine success?
Trust. Trust. Trust
Those teams that are best in terms of performance have very high levels of trust. This is achieved in a number of ways such as through individuals sharing their own vulnerabilities. Collective understanding and agreement on team values and of course, in overcoming difficult things together. Those teams that have experienced disappointment and overcome obstacles build mutual trust. Leaders in these teams lead by example, demonstrating the characteristics required.
How are you leading yourself and others?
What would happen if your purpose and passion combined?
Who could you share this with?
What are you top five values and how much are you honouring these?
Are you being nice or are you being real?
Joe McDonald, founder of create10 is a professional coach and trainer. He works with individual professionals, teams and organisations through one to one coaching, impactful workshops and online courses. Please email info@create10.ie with queries/bookings and see www.create10.ie for further information.