How professional athletes practice good teamwork | Emile Studham | TEDxLuxembourgCity

Summary

The speaker reflects on their leadership journey, highlighting how talent alone doesn't lead to success in sports or business. After struggling with burnout and ineffective team management, they adopted a counterintuitive approach inspired by professional sports: focusing on behaviors, relationships, and processes rather than just results. By encouraging 'catching the good'—recognizing positive behaviors and fostering trust—the speaker transformed their team and now teaches leaders how to do the same. The message emphasizes the importance of intentionality, trust-building, and recognizing the small daily actions that contribute to overall team performance.

Takeaways

• 💡 Talent alone doesn't lead to success; behaviors, relationships, and processes are equally important for building winning teams.
• 🤯 Focusing solely on outcomes and results can lead to burnout and isolation, as experienced by the speaker in his early leadership journey.
• 🏆 In professional sports, coaches like Paul Roos found success by emphasizing team behaviors and relationships over raw talent.
• 📊 Measuring behaviors, rather than skills or talent, can lead to better team leadership and performance, as demonstrated by the Sydney Swans' approach.
• 👥 Building trust and caring for team members creates a foundation for high performance and success in both business and sports.
• 🕒 Time and attention are key indicators of care; making time for recognition strengthens trust and relationships within teams.
• 🎯 Positive reinforcement and recognizing good behaviors can have a greater impact on team performance than focusing on correcting mistakes.
• ⚡ Teams with higher ratios of positive feedback to negative feedback perform better, with the best teams showing six positives for every negative.
• 🗓️ Leaders should schedule regular opportunities to 'catch the good'—recognizing good behaviors—at the start of meetings or team interactions.
• 🌍 Sharing positive stories and behaviors helps create a culture of mutual respect and belonging, shifting focus from individualism to teamwork.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's message?

The main theme is how to optimize team performance by focusing on behaviors, relationships, and processes rather than just talent and outcomes. The speaker highlights the importance of 'catching the good'—recognizing positive behaviors and creating trust to build a successful team.

Why does the speaker believe that talent alone is not enough to ensure success?

The speaker argues that while talent is important, focusing solely on talent and outcomes does not guarantee success. The richest sports teams or companies do not always win because success also depends on the right behaviors, strong relationships, and an effective process.

What personal experience did the speaker share about leadership challenges?

The speaker shared a personal experience of struggling with leadership at his first company, Aussie X. He was overly focused on outcomes, took on others' work, and burned out mentally and physically. This led him to realize that his leadership approach needed to change.

What role did the Sydney Swans coach, Paul Roos, play in the speaker’s journey?

Paul Roos, the head coach of the Sydney Swans, helped the speaker by showing him a new leadership approach that focused on behaviors, relationships, and process rather than talent. Roos led the Sydney Swans to a championship using this method, which the speaker later applied to his own company.

What is meant by 'catch the good,' and how does it apply to teams?

'Catch the good' refers to recognizing and reinforcing positive behaviors within a team, rather than just focusing on outcomes. This approach builds trust, encourages the right actions, and strengthens team relationships, leading to better performance.

Why are behaviors important in achieving team performance?

Behaviors drive results. While outcomes are important, they are the product of consistent and positive behaviors. By focusing on behaviors, teams can achieve sustainable success, and even high-talent individuals need to demonstrate positive team behaviors to contribute effectively.

What is the significance of relationships in the speaker's formula for team performance?

Relationships are built on trust, which is crucial for team performance. The speaker emphasizes that caring for others, making time for them, and recognizing their efforts help build strong relationships, which in turn drives higher performance in teams.

How does the speaker suggest leaders build trust within their teams?

Leaders should make time to care for their team members by recognizing their efforts and behaviors. Trust is built in small, everyday moments, not just big gestures. Regularly 'catching the good' helps maintain trust, which is essential for teamwork, especially during tough times.

What does the speaker say about the ratio of positive to negative feedback in successful teams?

The speaker highlights that successful teams have a feedback ratio of about six positives for every negative. In contrast, less successful teams have a negative-dominant ratio. This shows the importance of consistently providing positive reinforcement to maintain a healthy team dynamic.

What practical advice does the speaker give for implementing 'catch the good' in meetings?

The speaker suggests starting meetings with 'catch the good' stories as the first agenda item. Leaders should share last to identify patterns in the positive behaviors shared. It's also important to expect resistance but leverage team members who naturally exhibit positivity to lead by example.