What Sports Teams Can Teach Us About Company Culture
By: Element Three
Tags: Company Culture, Sports, Leadership, Teamwork, Culture

Ask anyone and you’ll get a myriad of answers and detailed stats. They’ll mention MVPs, All-Americans, Players of the Year, and coaches. But the success factor that’s often overlooked is much less concrete than championships won, batting averages, or goals — it’s chemistry. Team culture. The relationship between the players, coaches, and team itself.

So, what does sports have to do with company culture? I’ll argue, a lot. In both cases, you have players that are working together to reach a common goal. Great teams find ways to win. And if the 1980 US Olympic hockey team taught us anything, it’s that culture can get you there.

LESSON 1: PEOPLE RALLY TOGETHER WHEN THERE’S AN OPPONENT

Whether it’s a cause, rival, or nemesis, people come together to fight the big something. In sports, it’s easy — there are hundred-year-old rivalries to lean on. In business, it’s a little different.

While there might not be longtime rivalries, I’ll bet you have a few competitors. For non-profits, maybe it’s a cause or a fight against something. Giving your employees a common opponent can really bring people together. Just like sports teams, your office is probably made up of people who come from diverse backgrounds, whether it’s economically, culturally, or ethnically. But if you can give them a common goal, suddenly walls break down and things start happening.

Which brings us to the next point…

LESSON 2: EMBRACE COMPETITION

The goal of sports teams is to win. Why shouldn’t business culture be the same? Whereas competitiveness is often seen as an advantage in the sports world, in business it can carry a negative connotation. It makes people uncomfortable. Suddenly, everyone gets this image in their head of coworkers throwing others under the bus to gain an inch. But healthy competition can help get the most out of individuals and teams. Remember, as we learned in Lesson 1, competitiveness against a common opposition brings people together.

One way to implement this idea of competition into your culture is to try to “win at everything.” At Element Three, we keep score for our business goals — team P&Ls, open book financials, new business, Addy Awards — as well as for fun culture events like kickball, chili cook-offs, and our summer all-company party (Summer Slam).

Don’t be afraid to embrace competition. At its core, competition is really just a challenge. And if business is filled with challenges, why not keep score?

LESSON 3: RECRUITING MATTERS

One of the most important attributes for any coach isn’t about the game at all, but rather finding the right players to fill the team. Sports analysts and fans alike obsess over recruiting classes, trades, and transfers. Coaches spend countless hours finding and recruiting the best players to add to their team. Business leaders, take notes.

I’m not saying all organizations hire any average Joe on the street. But between team goals and results, recruiting often falls to the back burner. The businesses that actively recruit and target top talent will find more success than their counterparts. And once you start building an all-star roster, others will want to be part of the team, too.

On the flip side, it’s important to remember that recruiting isn’t just about talent. It’s also about culture. If the person you’re hiring is going to screw up all the good mojo in the office, walk away. You don’t want a Johnny Manziel/Cleveland situation on your hands (sorry, Browns fans).