The BABA Dugout: Bay Area Baseball Association Blog

Teams come in many forms: sports teams, work teams, and military teams to name a few. But what defines a team? When does a group of individuals change from being a collection of single personalities into a full-fledged, functional unit? I don’t have all the answers, but after observing many, many teams of all sorts, I’ve noticed a few things.

• Leadership
  Good teams have good leadership. Some teams might not have a formal leader (such as some informal work groups), and the leader isn’t always the figurehead, but one or more members in the group always determine the group focus and direction. What makes a good leader? There are volumes written about leading teams. Here’s a place to start.
• Enthusiasm for a Shared Vision 
  The number one key to the success of a team is enthusiam for a common goal. Everyone must be on the same page and working to succeed. If even one member of the primary team or support system is working at cross purposes from the stated goal, the team, at the very least, will not reach its full potential. In extreme cases, the team will disband.

Longevity doesn’t seem to be a requirement. Some baseball teams do very well, seemingly because they have been together for years, so longevity does seem to help a team form a cohesive unit. But look at champion Olympic teams. They practice together for an extremely limited amount of time, come from diverse backgrounds (sometimes speak different languages), and reach the pinnacle of success in their sport. Similarly, many companies form temporary teams to accomplish specific tasks.

Money also doesn’t seem to be a factor, though it is always helpful. The Yankees certainly use it to their advantage, but then the Astros have also gone to the World Series on their limited budget.

If you are thinking of putting together a team, of any kind, first get a clear vision of what you want for the organization. Then recruit members that agree with that vision. Don’t be tempted to bring people on board that you “will bring around” to that vision. They won’t come around. They will sabotage your team with discord and probably start their own team, recruiting your players or employees on their way out.

Finally, being on a team should be a rewarding experience for all team members (including the leaders). Everyone should get something out of it, whether it be enjoyment, learning, a parent’s enjoyment of doing for their child, or financial gain (in the case of employment).

Go forth and collaborate, support thy team, and reap the reward!

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