Team Component #1

Ok so how is a team successful? There are so many characteristics of successful teams but I believe there are certain components that are a "must have." Many people would say you have to have team chemistry. I don't really agree with that. I've been on successful teams that don't necessarily have team chemistry, but they were successful. Now does that mean team chemistry is not important - absolutely not. Team chemistry is definitely an important aspect of most successful teams. But there are so many successful business teams out there that hate each other's guts outside of work but between 9-5 they strap in and work their tails off because they have the same end goal in mind.

Every team member MUST be looking at the same goal and striving to achieve that goal. At the end of the day the team doesn't necessarily have to like each other, as long as the team is all pushing and pulling in the same direction. Fortunately for us, SWU Baseball has incredible team chemistry. There is hardly anyone that doesn't like or respect someone else on the team. I've talked to several of our transfers who have played on several different teams and they have told me that this is THE closest knit team they have ever played on.

But what about our goal? Are we all on the same page trying to accomplish the same thing? Most of the time I think we are. But striving toward our goal ON THE FIELD is directly affected by what we are striving for OFF THE FIELD - academically, socially, spiritually, etc. A successful team locates the obstacles that could potentially get in the way and they either avoid them or confront them. Either way, successful teams let nothing drag them off course.

I talked to a couple guys yesterday who were part of a ministry team in Seneca, SC but after 9 years their team crumbled. The only thing they could attribute it to was that they lost sight of the goal, and when they tried to correct the steering wheel, it was too late. My heart grieves for them. Here are three or four guys who have invested their entire lives into a dream and it's all come crashing down leaving them with nothing.

It is imperative that teams have the same goal in mind and do whatever it takes (within ethical constraints) to accomplish that goal.