We often speak of teams as families and whilst this is a great start, I believe that in business, we need to think a little harder about how we build the right culture and ecosystem for performance. In my view, a 'sports' team is closer to the ideal start-up of high performing ecosystem than a family. Whilst the two groups are much the same, there is a key difference.
Let me start with a few - and I stress this is only a few - of the things the two groups have in common:
Both rely on powerful alignment between individual and team values (and priorities) along with rules of engagement or codes of conduct. If there is no discipline, respect and consistency, there is no culture.
Organisational culture and structure of each depends largely on individual strengths and abilities. Whether you're a family, a sports team, or a start-up, you need to understand roles extremely well to unlock great performance and to live in harmony. Over time these roles can evolve (for instance, a parent becomes more of a friend than custodian of the adult-child relationship as families grow older)
Both groups share dynamics of verbalising their dreams to one another, to enlist the support of the group to get them there, because they love and care for what makes one another come alive, to become happy.
A winning family, team or culture, in my opinion, is one that puts learning above all activities. Continuous learning and growth is what progress is all about. Adapting to change and chaos is the modern warrior's greatest skill.
The list of similarities can go on and on, but here's the single biggest reason why I believe a winning culture or team is more like a sports team than a family:
In the cold harsh truth of business and performance, you can choose your team and hire the right people, but you can't do this with family. Sports teams use 'conditional love' as a basis for relational dialogue. Unlike your family, whom you love and support unconditionally, a high performing ecosystem and team depends on hiring, and nurturing the right talent and behaviours for success.
Of course, love and kindness are essential, particularly in the world we increasingly find ourselves living in; we don't live in a world of Gordon Gecko's anymore. But unlike family, a sports team depends on conditional love. It quickly lets you know whether you cut the mustard and when you don't. Instant feedback loops are an act of love in themselves as they allow for corrective steers and improvement.
Is this good or bad?
Well, it just is what it is.
That's the story of Sapiens.
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