If you have ever coached a team before you know the challenges in being successful. It’s a question I am asked all of the time. What makes a successful team? There are a few ingredients that are needed. Most people will immediately say that a team needs talent. Talent is what makes a good team. It does take talent, but that is not the most important thing.
While I was with the Colts, I coached seven different teams, from 2002 to 2008. In 2006, we won the Super Bowl; however, if I ranked each of the seven teams in terms of talent, I would put the Super Bowl-winning team fourth, perhaps even fifth. This is what ultimately made that team more successful than the others.
Togetherness
The 2006 Superbowl team had a sense of togetherness. Everyone bought into the idea that the team was first. It wasn’t that players didn’t have individual goals, but they were willing to put them behind the team goals.
Sacrifice
More than anything else, what takes a successful team is sacrifice. It took commitment to each other, the leadership, and the coaching staff by all of the players. Everyone willing to pull together, give up their number one goal for team first and foremost. If you are able to motivate people to come together and sacrifice for the common goal you will have successful teams in sports and in life.
