Good to Great

What makes a great team?

Another Australian Rugby League season heads into the Finals. If you’re a passionate fan and love the game you’ve probably followed your team forever. No matter what sporting code you follow, you can’t change teams, it’s in your blood, you have to go through the highs and lows season after season. And so it is that I find myself at the end of another frustrating season. The Canberra Raiders looked to have the talent and skills to be a great team this season, but they just haven’t shown their potential in crucial games. They’ve been disjointed with little direction along with a lack of discipline resulting in too many dumb mistakes. They just don’t appear to have the leadership or discipline required – on and off the field.

This year’s season has been dominated by the Melbourne Storm. The “Storm” have been at a performance level far and beyond the majority of teams for many seasons.

There’s something that sets the Storm apart from the rest. Yes, they do have star players but it runs deeper than that.  They’re disciplined, their methodical, they make the right decisions at the right times. There’s something about the culture of the club that drives their success. I believe it goes beyond the football field. The way they play the game is the result of a combination of many factors. They’re an outstanding team.

No doubt they have a very astute coach in Craig Bellamy, but it’s the way they are just “present” in every game. It’s the whole “box and dice”.

So, I started looking into what makes the difference between a good team and a great team. Why is it that some sports teams have consistently high success rates over many seasons? What are the lessons that can be learned and applied to business and everyday life?

In a recent interview about his team’s success, the coach of the Melbourne Storm – Craig Bellamy told how during his offseason he had spent time with the “All Blacks” in observing what makes them such a successful International Rugby Union team.

The New Zealand “All Blacks”

The All Blacks have a reputation as being some of the most humble professional sports people. As an All Black you don’t own the jersey, you are the guardian. Simple things like taking responsibility in making sure the change rooms are kept clean and tidy are part of the role. Captain Richie McCaw, who has played in over 150 International test matches, will sweep the floors, in fact the senior players take pride in doing this task. The message to all players is that they are all in this together. It’s irrelevant whether you’re the new kid on the block or one of the most capped rugby players in the history of the game, the job has to be done.

The players are fully aware that no one is irreplaceable in their role. You have to be at the top of your game in more ways than one. You have a responsibility on and off the field that comes with the privilege of being an “All Black”. The All Black organisation pay particular attention in how they develop and assist their up and coming players in reaching the required expectations. They are national role models and this is not to be taken lightly.

Their mission statement – “Better people make better All Blacks”

So it seems an “All Black” is a humble and proud person. He understands his role goes beyond the football field. The responsibility is not only to his team but his country. They understand the expectations in performing to the highest standards. If you aren’t at your best you accept that in the team’s best interest you will step aside to allow another to take your position so as to have the best available side on the field. As humble and gracious as they are, they’re there to win.

Whether your a player, a member of the coaching staff, the janitor or in administration, you are a part of a proud culture and you have a responsibility in giving your best at all times. The team is only as strong as it’s weakest link.

So what about a team that doesn’t carry the weight of a Nation’s expectations? What about a privately owned team that was below average and became great as a result of an outstanding coach?

The Green Bay Packers – Vince Lombardi    

 Although Lombardi coached in the 1960’s, his style and attention to detail in coaching his team set a benchmark for many future professional coaches. Vince Lombardi was offered the role as the coach of a downtrodden Green Bay Packers in 1959 after the preferred coach declined the offer. What is also extraordinary is this was Lombardi’s rookie year. From that point, the “Packers” went on to become one of the most dominant professional football teams through the 1960’s. Vince Lombardi won five NFL championships including two Super Bowls. After his retirement from coaching, he took over the General Manager’s role at the Green Bay Packers. He died from cancer at the age of 57 in 1970.

During an interview with ESPN’s Greg Garber – Bart Starr the former “Packers” quarterback sums up what occurred in 1959 that set the ball rolling for those upcoming successful years.

“For the folks who weren’t in the meeting rooms and on the practice field, I will tell you the story of how Coach Lombardi approached us when he first came to Green Bay. I had already been there for three seasons, and we had not had much success.
Well, in our first session, he was so strong and dynamic and powerful; when we took our first break after 30 minutes or so, I ran down the hall and into one of the offices and called my wife back in Alabama. I said, “Honey, we’re going to start winning.” I mean, it was that obvious.

His charisma, his manner was very, very impressive. One of the first things he said was, “We’re going to RELENTLESSLY pursue perfection — even though we know full well that we won’t catch it, because nothing is perfect.” Put the “relentlessly” in capital letters because that’s how he said it.

There was just a magnetism in that session that was overwhelming. He was a tough and demanding individual and, because I came from a military family, I was loving that. We were so well prepared in how we approached everything that, when it came down to the game, it was going to work — or you got down to time where it needed to work.

At the same time, he was very fair and objective. One time in my first or second year, he just chewed my butt out in a big group meeting. I had made some errors, some small things, but he really got into me. Later that day, I asked permission to see him. I said to him, “I know I made some mistakes, but the next time I do that, I would ask you respectfully to do it in the privacy of this office. I have to lead these men, and I can’t do it to the full extent if you’re undermining me in front of them.”

Well, he looked at me and he apologised and said, “It will never happen again.” And, nope, it never did “.

So whether it’s the Melbourne Storm, The New Zealand All Blacks or the Green Bay Packers, within these three teams the common threads are:

• You have to be the best you can if you want to succeed at a high level.

• You have to do what’s required consistently – week in week out.

• If you’re not 100% committed to your goals – take a break and come back when you are truly committed.

• Support everyone that supports you in anything you do.

• If you’re asked for an opinion or advice. Be fair, be honest and be concise.

• Be the best person you can be – be humble.

• Be thankful for your opportunities – be gracious.

• Don’t take anything for granted.

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 “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work.” – Vince Lombardi

It’s a no brainer that most of us won’t play at world class level but we can be an “All Black” or a Vince Lombardi in our own special way  – Give it a shot, you might make a big difference in a lot of peoples lives. – RD

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