How to Consistently Build a Winning Team

How do you build a winning team? I think successful coaches are good to learn from. In Social Psychology: Theories, Research, and Applications, Robert S. Feldman interviews Joe Paterno, head coach of Pennsylvania State University's college football team. In the interview, Feldman asks Coach "JoePa" about his secrets for building winning teams and group cohesiveness.

Build Some Pride in Being Part of the Team
The team has to be special. Feldman asks Coach Joe about how he molds individuals into a winning team:

• Q. "Many coaches work with players as talented as yours, yet don't win as many games ... what's your secret of success?"
• A. "... I think it begins with the way you put your program together. You have to immediately build up some price in being part of the organization. We talk all the time about not being afraid of being different, being unique. We demand more of people, from the time when we first begin recruiting ... You may have noticed we don't have anything on our uniforms; they're very plain -- no stripes, no names, nothing on the helmets. We wear black shoes ... There is a purpose for that. When our players put their uniforms on we want them to understand that they are part of a first-rate football team. Although they may not be better than other football players, they're different, they're unique -- not because of their individual strengths, but because they are part of a special Penn State team ... I build up a background in practice. We practice better than anybody; we practice harder than anybody; and we probably have higher pride than anybody. All this serves to create a kind of mystique about the situation which means that when they go out and play, there's more at stake than just football. It's the individual's pride and the commitment that he's made to the team."

The Effects of the Team Go Beyond Team Activities
According to Coach Joe, the effects go beyond the team:

• Q. "Then there are effects of being on the team that go beyond the football field?"
• A. "Absolutely. In the dormitories for instance, I want the dorm counselor to be able to count on the players because they're part of the team."

Build Successors
Coach Joe says it's not just about him; he develops leadership within the team:

• Q. "I would guess that after being part of the team for a while, the football players would begin to internalize these standards themselves. It's not just a matter of doing what you say, is it?"
• A. "Not at all. I try to develop leadership in the seniors and upperclassmen. They keep an eye on their teammates. I tell them they've got to be proud of the football team, and proud of their teammates."

Appear to Be Fair
Coach Joe says it's not about playing favorites:

• Q. "Is there a lot of competition within the team regarding, let's say, who's going to start."
• A. "A tremendous amount. I think it's one of the things that is most difficult in coaching. When it comes down to a youngster who really wants to play and feels that he's really good, then you have a problem. I don't know exactly how to solve it except to try to lean over backward to be fair to everybody. And I have a rule as a coach that it's not enough to be fair, you must appear to be fair. I think if you can get an individual to think that you really are concerned, you've got a chance to keep that youngster motivated. But it's a tough job."

Team Players Over Individual Results
Coach Joe emphasizes team results over individuals:

• Q. "Do you ever have a problem getting especially talented players -- the "stars" -- to cooperate with the team?"
• A. "Well, I have little sympathy for those people who don't. The best players have the most to gain by being cooperative. Football is so much a game of dependency. No matter how good you are, there are a lot of other people you're going to depend on."

Understand Each Individual
Coach Joe says it's their team, not his:

• Q. "How do you maintain morale -- group cohesiveness, a social psychologist would call it -- consistently?"
• A. "You can't create morale overnight, and once you have it's not easy to maintain but it's something you've got to work at all the time. You've got a bunch of guys involved in a program who have got to feel responsible for each other. But we also try to understand each one of them as an individual, with individual problems, and all those kinds of things. Finally, we make a point of being concerned about his morale and spend time to make sure he is trated fairly. I think it's important for every member of the team to feel it's their team. It's no my team; it's their team."

Key Take Aways
I think Coach Joe applies a lot of the principles I've seen work in practice. Here's my key take aways:

• Build pride in the team. There's a big difference between being on a team you're proud to be on and a team you're embarrassed by. Joining a team that's great to be on, can help set the tone ad pace that brings out everybody's best.
• Appear to be fair. I think this is especially important. I've been on team's where where everybody has a shot. I've also seen the opposite. There's a big difference between putting the best player in a position versus playing favorites. Who continues to give their best, when the best it trumped by favoritism?
• Build successors. I'm a fan of growing others and learning in the process. I think on a team in today's world this is particularly important. If you're the bottleneck for everything that gets done, then you put a glass ceiling on yourself and on the team. I always try to work myself out of a job, by teaching others and improving the job itself.
• Beware of ball hogs. A ball hog can really get in the way of an effective team. There's a big difference between doing your best at the expense of the team, and doing your best with the team.
• Understand each individual. At the end of the day, a team is a group of individuals. Appreciate the individuals for how they are.

My Related Posts

• Building Trust on Your Teams
• Assessing Your Existing Team