One for the Team
Recently I posted about the art of leadership timing in rugby.
Now I turn my attention to golf.
Tomorrow, Europe’s finest female golfers go head -to-head with their American counterparts in the Solheim Cup in Spain and next week it is the men’s Ryder Cup version in Italy.
So, what really fascinates me here is how elite sporting professionals adjust their mindset from individual prowess and personal goals to a team, collaborative effort.
Take the cultural dimension of Individual-Group preference.
Individual orientation
- With this preference, people like to have their individual achievements recognised, are happy to stand out from the crowd and much of their intrinsic motivation comes from ‘personal bests’. Think of boxing, downhill skiing and ,of course, golf. You win and fail on your own.
Group orientation
- With this preference, success is fully achieved when the whole team succeeds. People are most comfortable and energised when their efforts contribute to the success of everyone involved.
Fear of failure is a reflex. When we face stress, anxiety and, in this case, nervousness that our efforts may let others down, the hormones do not change from how we feel in individual contests. Adrenaline and cortisol are released in both situations.
So, is it all about mindset and attitude?
The twelve players representing their sides in these golf competitions have not practised together. The team captain (non-playing) has the challenging task of selecting them as pairs to play together. Ex-captains often talk about looking for the “chemistry” between two very different players and styles.
This is instinctive and sometimes scarily close to personal bias.
This cultural challenge doesn’t seem so far away from the high-performing global coprorate teams I have coached over the years when challenging, VUCA times have forced them to develop new ways of team- working, leading, and succeeding.
How did Michael Jordan put it – “I can accept failure, But I can’t accept not trying”.
May the best teams win in Spain and Italy – as long as they are European!!
Love to get your thoughts on the Individual- Group cultural dimension, either in sport and/or business.
Area Business Manager at Sun King | Sales Representative | Sales Team Leader | Sales Manager | Area Sales Representative |
2wAmazing gesture, here's to a future with more cheers 🥂