TEAM CULTURE MAGIC

 Having been an intimate part of over 115 championship teams, I feel certain that there is a special magic to these cultures, one that goes well beyond winning championships. Here is an excerpt from WIN THE DAY book of mine that details what that magic is. 

The magic of the power of a harmonious group is an important feature that has made THE ART OF WAR one of the most widely read books among generals, corporate CEOs, and athletic coaches throughout the world. The Chinese book of change, the I CHING, teaches that the human spirit is nourished by a sense of connectedness and unity. As coach Jackson says in the above quote, each member is strengthened by a well-connected, cohesive, unified team. When you experience this, magic happens.

When I work with teams that demonstrate connectedness and harmony it is pure magic. I notice something special about them...how they walk, talk, run, play. It’s different in a special way. The following passage describes my experience after being with such a team during an action- packed, intense final-four weekend. I gave each member a copy, and I want you to have a sense about their dance, their way, one that mesmerized all who came to watch. I wish we all could experience the magic of such a team:

"In my view, the athletes who play on this team do so because there is a magic to it, one that is hard to find in life. Partly, this magic resides in the physical sensation and pleasure of catching a ball on the run, sprinting to the goal for a score. Part of the magic is in the psychological realm where we feel the trust, security, and confidence from being together all season. And in the spiritual domain, it is the safe, comfortable place created to help us take risks and look foolish or fail, so necessary to discover what we are made of, the juice of life, a way of being, not only on the field, court, arena, but in the larger game of life. There is not only the relationship with team, coach, self, but our relationship to the stick, the ball...all an extension of our hearts, our souls, an expression of who we are. There is also an aesthetic component of the team, one that demonstrates the absolutely most beautiful way of playing andcompeting. Just as ballet is the most beautiful way of moving the body between two points, our team is to your sport as ballet is to walking. It is the magical ultimate win the day experience incorporating body, mind and spirit. So many other teams wish they could dance like you rather than experience a dance form more rigid, forceful, less fluid, and contrived. These are forms without soul, without heart, without courage. When they see you, they discover a more disciplined, beautiful, flowing way, free of fear, filled with compassion, all of which fills the void, the holes in the soul. They crave your dance and are not sure what it is or how you’re being. They just know they are tired of being the wallflowers in the big dance. they want a piece of the magic you own, yet, until they let go of the need to fight you, beat you, destroy you and simply play the game or dance the dance, the magic will be forever elusive."

They won the national championship, but more importantly, they won the day as well as the hearts of all who came to experience their demonstration of passion and love for each other and for the game. They were being champions even before the outcome was decided. The next year, at the final four, the team t-shirts read: DANCE ON. They did and won, once again for their seventh consecutive National Championship..

Magic happens when you remember to remain connected to your love and passion for the game and each other and become so much more. In what ways is your team culture magical? Notice what happens when you embrace the win the day philosophy.