Reality Check - Why Your Team Isn't Winning

Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, identifies the five fundamental reasons why teams do not perform well as absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, absence of accountability, and inattention to results. The Golden State Warriors experienced dysfunction but made multiple corrections to become a winning team in June. With a dedicated but frustrated fan base, the Warriors went from a team that changed front office personnel, ownership, and coaching staff to remove the dysfunctions absence of trust and lack of commitment to become an NBA Championship Team within two years.

In order for a team to win, it must be governed by a leader who has the following:

• Clear vision on what it takes to create a championship caliber team
• Commitment to excellence with combined willingness and power to destruct and construct as necessary until the mission is accomplished
• Authority to make bold decisions to put the right people in position who have solid track records and foster change that can bring about the desired results
• Professionalism to admit questionable and unfavorable player deals made with a plan of corrective action to garner great draft picks, trades, and free agent signings
• Insight into how each department can help with earned trust for others to share information
• Respect of subordinates to not undermine decisions and abilities to higher level executives
• Identification and announcement of individuals to be held accountable for missing the mark in any areas of the organization that impacts the team makeup

A breakdown in any of the aforementioned categories screams dysfunction in which a team can barely exist let alone win.  Let's hope the people with the authority for your team have read this blog post to start making changes.

Published August 21, 2015

Photo by Caleb Wellington 

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Posted in: accountability,commitment,conflict,dysfunctional team members,inattention to results,Leaders,NFL Teams,Patrick Lencioni,teambuilding,teamwork,The Five Dysfunctions of A Team,trust

Super Bowl Thrashing Proves Value in the Underdog

COURTESY OF SEAHAWKS.COM ...WHY NOT THEM???

The Super Bowl was not exciting for those who wanted to see a "good game" but extremely thrilling for others who were amazed by the Seattle Seahawks' defense almost shutting out the perceived best-offense in the league.  Since the lights could not be cut out to change the momentum, let's take the win and look at how you can learn from the Seahawks' roster of underdogs who quickly became champions.

21 out of the 53 players on the active roster were undrafted.  This means they were looked over in combines as not being "worthy" of being selected in the NFL draft.  That is almost half the team.  These players had to work tirelessly and prove their worth to get on a roster.  Nothing came easy for them - moving from other team's practice squads city to city, staying in temporary living conditions, making the league minimum on some weeks and no salary on others, proving they can learn the plays thrown at them, and eventually landing in Seattle with great leadership and teammates.  Persistence, drive, and great work ethic gets you to levels unimaginable as long as you keep believing in yourself.

Great leadership understood the power of mental stimulation.  If you are motivated and have a burning hunger to succeed, a great leader knows that distractions like poor team morale, surrounding poor work ethic, team in-cohesiveness, and others' lack of self-confidence seriously impact the ability to win a championship or accomplish great results.  The stronger the mind, the more adversity one can handle.  Great leaders know how to help their team members shake off the defeats.  They also know how to move people off the team who have insecurities because they negatively affect the dedication of others.

Whether you want to start a new career or business or want to flourish with a promotion, the only limits are the ones you place on yourself.  If almost half the Seattle Seahawks could work tirelessly to get to a championship team, so can you.  You do the work and find the right leader that has your best interest at heart. The Seahawks did it - why not you?

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Posted in: NFL,NFL Practice Squad,NFL Teams,Seattle Seahawks,Super Bowl,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - The Most Valuable NFL Teams

Joe Robbins.Getty Images...

If you thought sports was about athleticism and entertainment, you are right.  But in case you did not understand how each owner can pay the high salary athletes and signing bonuses, here's the article that explains how increased valuation in stadium sales, naming rights, local media, and sponsorship revenue keeps NFL teams beyond afloat and able to bring the best talent to your favorite team.

Read this article by Mike Ozanian on the most valuable NFL teams.  It may not affect your fantasy football picks but it may give some insight on how well your team is doing financially.

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Posted in: Forbes,Mike Ozanian,most valuable NFL teams,NFL,NFL Teams,sports business