When major sport franchises set out to put together a winning team, there are many factors that go into the decision-making process.
It's no different than in any major company or, for that matter, any size business.
Let's take for example the most storied franchise in sports history, the New York Yankees. With all opinions aside, let's look at the way they put their teams together.
In the late '90's they were a team comprised of a core group of players developed in their farm system coupled with a select group of players from other teams. The question is, were they the most talented team on the field in every position? The answer is quite simple: no.
From position to position they clearly were not.
Building an organization is a lot like building a baseball team: When each individual does his job well, the team has tremendous success. The pitcher cannot make the play at shortstop and the catcher cannot run out to center field to make the catch. It's no different than in the board room; when each person focuses on what they can control, it leads the team to their greatest success.
Finding the right balance is critical in building a winning team.
During the late '90's, the Yankees were fortunate to keep most of those players together and the results were four World Series Championships in five years. But then, a funny thing happened I have seen it, time and time again not only in major sports, but in all types of different organization trying to build the best team. They think in order to keep winning, they need to bring in the most talented individuals instead of finding what is the best fit for the team. So the the Yankees spent the most money every year for the next nine years before they won again.
How does that happen? They had the most talent and the highest payroll. The answer is simple, but one no executive wants to face.
The best talent does not always equal the best team. Even though The Yankees brought in some extremely high-priced talent; it did not serve in the best interest of the team.
Flash forward to 2009, they once again spent the most money and brought in more talent. But it really was not the new talent that put The Yankees over the top. It was the same core unit that has been with them the longest as well as some key players that were not even suppose to be on the team this year. It showed that chemistry is the key component when building a winning team.
After it was over, every player interviewed said just about the same thing:
“You have no idea how hard it is to get here, no idea what it takes.”
Well, by now we should know what it takes. It takes a group of individuals with the same mindset empowering each other, challenging each other and pushing each other to the limit. They have to be willing to do their jobs to the best of their ability no matter their talent level so the team can reap the greatest rewards. The greatest players in the world are simply players. The greatest teams in the world are remembered FOREVER!!!
David F Muraco is a certified life coach, motivator and radio talk show host who lives in Oneida. In 2004 he founded "In the Zone", a business dedicated to helping people reach their goals. His column runs every Wednesday in the Utica Daily News. To contact David, email him at davemuraco@in-the-zone.biz or visit his website at http://In-the-zone.biz
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