The iconic photo of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi and his teammates celebrating the 2022 FIFA World Cup victory in Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, is the most-liked Instagram post of 2023 with nearly 75.6 million likes.
Soccer is a pretty big deal in my family. Both my teenagers play, and my husband is an assistant coach. With two, and often three, practices a week and weekend games (come rain or shine and given the PNW climate, it’s mostly rain) it’s safe to say, I hear a lot about soccer, particularly team dynamics.
It’s clear that players and coaches must work together to achieve common goals and understand roles and responsibilities. The game, sustained by strategic tactical coordination, is a balanced offensive and coordinated defense that can pivot as needed and thrive under pressure. Scoring goals and winning hearts and minds are universal threads that speak to the shared dynamics of any team, be that on the field or in the office.
Strong teams value and respect the talent that their teammates bring to their different positions. Strong leadership can help showcase how well teams work together and how it is their collective performance that outweighs the individual qualities of any one member. Successful results reflect this and remind us that it is teamwork that embraces the idea that players must be the best person for the team, not the best player on the team.
The well-known phrase “teamwork makes the dream work” coined by John Maxwell, an American Clergyman, explains that the division of tasks and responsibilities among members of a team can produce greater results than a single person performing the same task. In a company setting, team members can divide the workload, share their skills and knowledge, and perform tasks and projects more efficiently, leading to greater productivity, faster turnaround times, and better overall results. Like on a soccer team, a company team that works well together can accomplish more than when individuals work alone.
With the arrival of the New Year, many business leaders are currently allocating resources, reviewing strategies, refining goals, and assessing team composition. They are investing the time necessary to understand team priorities, strengths, and needs setting clear expectations.
I realize there are no equals to the genius that is Lionel Messi, but I’m proud to say that the leadership team at Ideba continually inspires our team to reach its fullest potential by providing relevant and meaningful challenges and goals. They provide direction to ensure everyone understands how they fit into the larger picture. Beyond computer screens and soccer fields, we are working together to achieve common goals, striving to make a difference at work and in our shared community, the global village of the 21st century.
How do you envision your team developing this year? How will you show that you value and trust them, but more importantly, how will you celebrate your victories?
Tamara Clarke – Research and Consulting Manager
