Team USA’s Leadership Lesson
The recent Ryder Cup victory by 12 US professional golfers reversed losses in five of the last six years to the Europeans.
What does this say to business leaders?
To start, golfers play as individuals and rarely participate in a team effort, let alone a team of twelve. Captain, Paul Azinger broke the rules in selecting players and organizing them in light of the recent losing USA performances. He chose players up to two weeks before competition so he selected the hottest players. And, more importantly, he used a novel, multifaceted team building strategy.
Using a professional personal coach, he selected players and put them into three, 4 man pods, based on their behavioral styles. One pod consisted of aggressive players, another of steady players and the last was a mixed group of rookies and veteran players. The pods practiced together and played together in the tournament. Mr. Azinger created an environment where each player could succeed by being themselves. He learned how to effectively communicate with them based on their style preferences. He structured the group with similar-style assistant captains for each pod to take care of their specific needs. During the tournament he chose his messages deliberately depending on the situation and the team style….sometimes just a drive by supporting smile.
Why did this work? Mr. Azinger put the emphasis on personal commitment that helped each player be their best rather than asking them to think of a large team effort. It worked amazingly well. With a USA team without Tiger Woods and including 6 rookies, the American’s scored an impressive 16 ∏ to 11 ∏ victory!
Think of your many project teams, cross-functional teams, etc. Using individual preferences/strengths is a functional approach to success. I know, I’ve used it and seen it work!
Tags: career coaching, leadership, paul azinger, ryder cup, team usa golf team, tiger woods
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