Intangibles

Here are a few of the intangibles: 

Chemistry.

Leadership.

Identity.

Enthusiasm. 

For the sake of this comparison we are using the example of chemistry to indicate the mix of personalities, characteristics, abilities, demeanor and the delicate combination of leaders and followers coming together in a moment of conflict. How they react as a team, be they Navy SEALS, a focus group on global warming, a high school girls swim team or a PAC12 football team (playing on a Friday night) is the chemistry that will allow A) success or B) growth. Even in the second example, where lives and limbs are literally on the line, failure is the best precursor of growth and improvement. We admire sports because they are non-lethal microcosms of the war game. What separates a championship team from the rest can often be isolated and identified as team chemistry. How well do these guys work with each other to achieve the common goal? 

Leadership is the glue. It is absolutely necessary to have an alpha dog on the team (offense and defense) that sets the tone, level of intensity and focus. One person is singularly tasked with acting as liaison between the coaching staff and his or her mates. There is painfully little margin for error in his job description. Lead the men (boys, girls) into battle and display the attributes taught, the skills rehearsed and the assignments expected. This special person is asked to demonstrate the primary rule of leadership to his younger, lesser equipped and inexperienced mates, the rule of going first. She barks ‘follow me’ and the pack moves forward. The lack of this critical chess piece is glaringly apparent to the trained eye, the alert opposing coach and maybe 10% of any viewing audience. 

Identity is the personality of the team. Are they a smart team trying to out-wit you, prey upon mistakes and exploit your weakness, or are they road-graders perfectly content to run the ball down the throats of weaker competition? Is your team’s identity strong, fast, daring, fearless and intimidating? Or soft, slow and just happy to be there? Identity starts at the top and trickles all the way to the weakest link. To be successful one must unconditionally commit to the team, unit, group, tribe or culture. Those that cannot abide by, for reasons that we will soon explore, these high standards and requirements, their very code, are regularly weeded out and sent packing to other teams with lessor demands on the individual. 

It should be obvious that the key to successful execution of the above is in the enthusiasm brought to the area by those ‘made’ members of the team. Once the chemistry has been proven, the leadership established, the identity demonstrated, all that remains are answers to the ‘prove it’ and ‘show-me’ double-dares. The talk has been talked leaving only the walk to be walked. This is more often than not a matter of degree. The intensity with which one team is able to ‘impose their will’ upon those that have the unfortunate circumstance of being on the same field with them at game time determines success. Good teams can do this for, on average, half a game. GREAT teams do it for four quarters. 

Chemistry. Leadership. Identity and Enthusiasm. The four horsemen leading any successful program. 

The next time you settle in to watch a contest make a few notes on the success or failure of each team in these four critical areas. I think you will be surprised at how often the results favor those that add these abstractions to the mix. Lots of kids can run, catch, block, tackle and be 'coach-able'. Only a select few can make their teammates better, lead by example, never surrender and play with the relaxed focus of a hungry predator. 

Intangibles. The magic of unseen skills.