“Smart teams do smart things.” Where does ‘smart’ arise? It flows from leadership into execution.
Leaders inspire followers and leaders self-renew by creating new leaders. If we lead well, new leaders arise spontaneously.
Smart teams have autonomy, the capacity to direct and control themselves. They learn situational awareness and don’t beat themselves.
Mastery translates to doing the next right things at the right time. Know how beats know that. Practicing end-of-quarter and end-of-game situations is mandatory. Because games are often close, have a cupboard of ATO, SLOB, BOB, zone and man ‘solutions’ to the quality shot problem.
Have a purpose. Why do we play? Play to promote excellence in all teams - our family, school or business, community, and avocations.
Smart teams are humble. They recognize magic in the work, preparation, and practice. They do more of what works and less of what doesn’t. Their preparation increases their position on the skill and luck continuum.
Smart teams control ego. They reflect on how to improve not on celebrating their power or perks.
Smart teams use resources wisely. The New England Patriots traded Jimmy Garoppolo for a second round draft choice. They transformed that pick into seven players and a 2020 fourth round pick...so far.
Smart teams value everyone’s contributions. “Thanks is the cheapest form of compensation.”
Do we have what it takes to be a smart team?
Lagniappe: Director Werner Herzog advises us to read, to be inspired by creators. He requires his students to read J.A. Baker’s The Peregrine. Here’s an excerpt: “This was my first peregrine. I have seen many since then, but none has excelled it for speed and fire of spirit. For ten years I spent all my winters searching for that restless brilliance, for the sudden passion and violence that peregrines flush from the sky."