Life is a Team Sport

In sports, the most successful teams build a culture of inclusion, trust and altruism. Teams simply can’t win consistently without embodying these and other key values. It doesn’t matter the sport, the league, or the level - the common denominator is that excellent teams put a premium on building a positive culture. Sure, being in top shape is important for athletic success. Sure, being highly skilled and practicing strategy and execution are critical. Yet underlying it all, is an atmosphere that creates meaning, connection and belonging.

Once again, sport mirrors life.

Take a walk through a locker room or training facility of a successful team, and you’ll soon understand clearly how they communicate their cultural values. You’ll see words like “family,” and “together” posted on walls. If you listen to the players and coaches you’ll hear them talk about being there for each other, and you’ll sense the deep satisfaction they emanate when they speak to that. It is foundational to our survival as a species. Next time you see a postgame interview with a player or coach, tune into that.

In a society where so many feel disconnected, lonely and misunderstood, (with social media reinforcing these divisions), perhaps we can apply some lessons from sport to move the needle here. As a business leader, can you consider how you might be able to foster trust and connection amongst your group? As a parent, can you ensure that your children feel known, valued and trusted? Your job as a leader is to build your team.

In a greater sense, as an individual in our greater society here in the U.S., but moreover, as a member of our human race, can you think about who you can reach out to, who might you support, who can you connect with and believe in? Who might you encounter today that you can connect with in some small way in order that they too, might feel a bit more known, appreciated and understood by a member of “team humanity.”

Can you shed the protective armor of your ego, take a breath, and allow humility and love to become your personal hallmarks? Can you help to shift the collective paradigm from “me,” to “we”?

We live in a world where too often, division is the operative force. Indeed, I’d argue that it’s easy to be divisive. Just stick to your fears and insecurities, find some other people that hold up your opinions without scrutiny, look to get what you can, while you can, for yourself. Rinse, repeat, and deepen that neural pathway. Yet if we all do that, how can “we” win as a “team?”

Instead, you can become aware of that tendency, see it for what it is, override it through mindful awareness, and move yourself to a higher level. Show others how to do it.

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, perhaps you’ll find some time over the next few weeks to watch a game on TV. While you’re watching, look deeper into what connects the players, coaches and staff as they strive for victory.

And understand that victory only comes when we support each other on, and off the field. Because life is a team sport.

Yours in practice,

Pete