Mark de Rond is a professor of Strategy and Organization at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School, where I was CEO in Residence for several years. He’s just released the book There Is an I in Team: What Elite Athletes and Coaches Really Know About High Performance that looks at the learnings that business can learn from the world of professional sport and how focusing on individual potential elevates team performance.
Richard Hytner, Deputy Chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide, penned the Foreword to the book and recommends it as being readable, teachable, innovative and insightful.
According to Mark, here are six ways to up pump up your team performance:
- The best teams are made up of individuals.
- Know your limits. How much are you willing to tolerate – even from your most talented team members?
- “Star performers” are great but be mindful that everyone has their unique strengths. Amazing talent is not transferable.
- Team players need to be aware that what may work for them as individuals doesn’t necessarily work in a group.
- Tension within the team may be uncomfortable, but that isn’t the same as dysfunctional.
- Create an open environment where people can have their say.
