I just spent 6 days attending the Ontario Provincial Volleyball championships with my 13 year old daughter and 15 year old son. As I reflect on the past week of wins, losses, emotional highs and lows, it occurred to me there were several lessons to be shared. Here are five key lessons I feel are worth sharing from a busy week of competitive volleyball.
Communication is critical
While it may seem obvious I am including communication as a top 5 lesson learned, this week proved just how important a role communication and transparency played ON and OFF the court. The same is true in the business world. This week, effective communication ensured winning team’s coaches, players (and parents!) were on the same page, and understood their role in the team’s strategy. This is just as important in the workplace, where clear communication can help avoid misunderstandings, increase productivity, and promote collaboration.
The biggest takeaway? Leaders can learn from winning teams by prioritizing communication in their organizations. This means setting up regular team meetings, encouraging open dialogue, and providing opportunities for feedback. By fostering a culture of communication, leaders can ensure everyone in the organization is working towards the same goals and has the information they need to succeed.
Trust is an essential ingredient for teamwork
It was evident watching the gold medal matches that successful teams had high degrees of trust between teammates and coaches. Players trusted each other to play their position and to work together effectively.
Leaders can learn from successful sports teams by focusing on building trust within their organizations. This means investing in team building activities, promoting transparency and accountability, and leading by example. By demonstrating trust in their employees, leaders can inspire trust in return and create a culture of collaboration and teamwork.
A positive attitude is a winning attitude
This week’s winning teams radiated a positive attitude on and off the courts. This positive attitude is not just about winning games, but about believing in the team’s ability to succeed and working hard to make it happen. A positive attitude can help overcome adversity, boost morale, and inspire everyone to work towards a common goal.
Leaders can learn from sports teams by promoting a positive attitude within their organizations. This means recognizing and celebrating successes, encouraging a growth mindset, and fostering a culture of resilience. By focusing on the positive and believing in their team’s abilities, leaders can inspire their employees to achieve great things.
The 85% rule: aim to perform at 85%. No-one will be perfect but aim for a high percentage.
This was a really interesting rule I learned from my daughter’s incredible coaching staff (shout out to the 14U Storm Blizzard coaches!). Winning athletes and coaches understand perfection is impossible – but that doesn’t mean they don’t strive for excellence. Instead of aiming for 100% all of the time, they aim for 85%, recognizing that this is a high standard that is achievable but also allows for mistakes and learning opportunities.
Leaders can learn from sports teams by setting high standards for their organizations while also recognizing that perfection is not possible. By encouraging their employees to aim for 85% and focusing on continuous improvement, leaders can create a culture of excellence that inspires everyone to do their best.
You win or you learn.
Finally, winning teams understand that every game is an opportunity to learn and improve. Even if they lose, they analyze their performance, identify areas for improvement, and work hard to make adjustments for the next game.
Leaders can learn from sports teams by adopting a similar mindset in their organizations. By recognizing that failures are opportunities to learn and grow, leaders can create a culture of continuous improvement that drives innovation and success.
In conclusion? While the week was exhausting, I am proud of both teams and my athletes who worked hard, maintained a positive attitude, learned from their mistakes, and supported their teammates. Winning teams regardless of whether they are on the volleyball court or in the corporate world offer valuable lessons for leaders in any field. By prioritizing communication, building trust, promoting a positive attitude, aiming for 85%, and embracing failure as an opportunity to learn, leaders can create organizations that are resilient, collaborative, and successful.
