Last week, I had the privilege to be the keynote speaker at a conference held at the Etihad Stadium, home to the 2013-14 Premiership football champions, Manchester City.
Prior to speaking, I had the opportunity to have a tour of the stadium. I was fascinated by how the leadership team, went to great lengths to ensure, they created an environment for the players that ensured that their individual and collective needs were met, creating an environment where they could focus on their goal of winning.
What they do to achieve this, is equally relevant and important, in creating a winning team environment, in other businesses.
TREAT EACH TEAM MEMBER AS AN INDIVIDUAL
The home team have a fully-kitted out indoor area to warm-up, which is tailor-made to each players’ specification. The City dressing room is also fitted out with luxury padded seating. This is to make team members feel more comfortable and hopefully give them that little edge.
Do you personalise each team members work area to ensure their needs are meet thus ensuring they work effectively?
ENSURE YOUR TEAM HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT TO MAXIMISE THEIR PERFORMANCE
With a football team, it is important that their fitness levels are optimised. Manchester City have a physiotherapy room just off the changing room. This is fully equipped with state of the art physiotherapy equipment, that enables them to ensure that the player’s needs are supported prior, during and after the game. To ensure they optimise their performance on the pitch, they need the right support off the pitch.
Do you ensure that your team have the right equipment to do their jobs properly?
HAVE A GOOD SUPPORT NETWORK AND KEEP THEM HAPPY
Even the needs of the substitutes are catered for. The home team dug out is kitted out with heated seats for them to keep warm in the freezing temperatures. The leadership team don’t know when they will need to call on the services of one of the substitutes, it could be in the first minute or the last minute of the game. When they do, they need to ensure they can perform at their best.
Who supports your team and how do you keep the relationship with them positive?
PROVIDE ON-GOING COACHING AND SUPPORT
The manager has all the tools and technology available, in order to provide individual and team coaching, both prior, during and after the game. This is vitally important, especially at half-time, when tactics may need to be changed to give the team the winning edge.
Do you provide regular, on-going support and individual/team coaching?
INSPIRE THE TEAM
As well as individuals knowing the part they need to play in achieving their goals, it is important that they understand the bigger team goal, that their performance helps to achieve. Often teams will use a vision/mission statement, or a phrase that really resonates with the team.
Do you have a vision/mission statement or phrase? And importantly, does everyone in the team know what it is and believe in it?
GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE TEAM AND WRONG ONES OFF THE TEAM
As a leader, you need to ensure that you have the right blend of skills, competencies and behaviours in your team. If you haven’t achieved the right mix, you may need to restructure the team, recruiting new team members and letting go of others.
Have you got the right individuals in your team to enhance your team success?
CONCLUSION
As a leader, there are a number of things that you should be doing. You not only have to have the right people on your team, you also need to create an environment that enables them to flourish and play their part in helping achieve team success.
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If you wish to find out more about the learning programmes that I facilitate, that engage individuals and motivate teams, enabling them to transform and achieve even greater success. Do not hesitate contact me, via email nick@ngagementworks.com
Yours Behaviourally,
Nick