Work

Dream Teams: Do They Actually Work In Organizations?

09.18.2004 | Chris Bailey

We all know how the United States basketball team fared at the 2004 Olympics and a similar thing seems to be happening with the U.S. Ryder Cup golf team. Both groups, filled with exceptionally talented individuals and seemingly dominant on paper compared to the competition, provide a stark reminder of one of the pitfalls of team-building. The pursuit to fill a work team with the best individual talent may actually lead to poor results. Instead, first consider the mission of your team (what’s your central purpose for existing as a group) and then build based on the answer. Need a strong marketing focus? Are you weak in bringing new ideas to the table? The best individuals to help with these needs may not be one of the “office all-stars.”

In the movie Miracle, Herb Brooks (played by Kurt Russell) tells his assistant, “I’m not looking for the best players, I’m looking for the right ones.” What he wanted was a team that shined together, not individual all-stars trying to shine on their own. Do you have the right ones on your team?

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I help business leaders and their organizations improve how they relate to their customers, employees, and other critical stakeholders. It’s born out of my belief that individuals crave meaningful relationships and want to be involved with companies that connect with them personally. I’m devoted to helping organizations discover the unique qualities that make them remarkable.

I’m currently a Master’s student at the University of North Texas studying business anthropology.

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