Something to Think About

Tough Work of Turning Around a Team by Bill Parcells, Harvard Business Review, November 2000 - 

 

Even small successes can be extremely powerful in helping people believe in themselves. In training camp, therefore, we don’t focus on the ultimate goal–getting to the Super Bowl. We establish a clear set of goals that are within immediate reach: we’re going to be a smart team; we’re going to be a well-conditioned team; we’re going to be a team that plays hard; we’re going to be a team that has pride; we’re going to be a team that wants to win collectively; we’re going to be a team that doesn’t criticize one another.

 

When we start acting in ways that fulfill these goals, I make sure everybody know it. I accentuate the positive at every possible opportunity, and at the same time I emphasize the next goal that we need to fulfill. If we have a particularly good practice, then I call the team together and say, “We got something done today; we executed well. I’m very pleased with your work. But here’s what I want to do tomorrow: I want to see flawless special teams work. If you accomplish that, we will be ready for the game on Sunday.” 

 

When we set small, visible goals, and people achieve them, they start to get it into their heads that they can succeed. They break the habit of losing and begin to get into the habit of winning.