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What is it that makes some
teams highly successful while others flounder?
The most common error is that we mistake groups
of people for teams. A collection of employees,
athletes or children gathered together, (company,
sport, etc.) may, by definition constitute a team
as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary:
“any group |
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organized to work
together”. However, it is at this point that
the difference between a team and an effective and
winning team parts company. A winning team is characterized
and measured in terms of a team’s output, the
ability to achieve goals and the psychological benefits
of belonging to a successful team.
The
following story is a good place to start our series
“Crucial Components of Teams” to
demonstrate important components of a successful team
– the willingness to supplant one’s personal
agenda or goals for the benefit of the team. In the
2003 Tour de France, a bicycle race in which competitors
pedal over 2000 miles in 3 weeks, an excellent illustration
of teamwork occurred. An American, Tyler Hamilton,
found himself in Stage 16, a 122 mile ride in the
Pyrenees Mountains. Riding with a broken collarbone,
obtained in the second day of racing in a horrific
bicycling accident, Tyler found himself descending
from a Category 4 climb on a windy and twisting road.
As riders jockeyed for position, there were numerous
attacks within the peloton (a group of bicyclists)
with the objective of establishing a dominant team.
Suddenly, the peloton split and Tyler found himself
too far back of the lead group to pose as a viable
threat to win the day. He called for help. His teammates
forfeited their positions in the front of the peloton,
dropped back to Tyler’s position, and drafted
for him until he could return to the pack.
On
returning to the pack, Tyler made his move with two
miles left to climb. Leaving a ten-man group and putting
almost a three minute advantage on the peloton, Hamilton
finished first and claimed his first stage win and
thus first yellow jersey after 7 years of racing in
the Tour de France. This representing both a personal
and team victory.
This
story clearly highlights key components of a successful
team - the willingness and ability to sacrifice individual
goals for those of the team. In so doing, through
collective effort, individuals can find themselves
in a position to achieve more individually.
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