Manager's Tools: Content: Newsletter

Developing Olympic-sized Team Spirit

March, 2010

Every business leader wants to build team spirit—getting their department, organization or culture to rally around a unified cause. But it’s easier said than done.

So what can the Olympic Winter Games and a small town in Nebraska teach us about coaching more spirit and energy into your team? It’s a remarkable story:

To show our support for the Games, our parent organization O.C. Tanner granted the first ever Inspiration Awards. Athletes nominated individuals who had been their behind-the-scenes support and strength—the people who “participated” but not in the spotlight. Olympians nominated their coaches, teachers, spouses, and of course, parents. After more than 870,000 votes, skeleton athlete Noelle Pikus-Pace, snowboarder Nick Baumgartner, and Gold medalist bobsledder Curt Tomasevicz earned the opportunity to honor those who inspired them along their Olympic journey with a 14k gold ring (learn more about the stories on the Facebook page).

While all three stories are amazing, it was Curt’s story that made us perk up as leadership authors. The bobsledder said:

“I’m so fortunate to have the support of an entire town, Shelby, Nebraska. And though it might be a small place on the map, their encouragement is enormous. Many hometowns are proud of their athletes, but Shelby has given me the support I needed to make it to the Olympics.

A meager population raised nearly $25,000. They honor my accomplishments with celebration—hosting block parties, golf tournaments and street dances for the entire town to celebrate together. I receive hundreds of emails of encouragement, of love, of admiration and support—emails that bring a smile to my face and make me work hard on their behalf. A Facebook page was created to sell shirts; proceeds [sent] my parents to the Games. Without this family of 690 behind me, I would not be here.”

Consider for a moment the magnitude of Curt’s words—an entire community sharing in a single dream. This is a story business leaders and managers around the globe yearn to emulate. So let’s take some cues from this small town that produced a mighty giant. Here are three ways to develop more spirit in your team:

Root. Curt received email after email from his neighbors and friends and community leaders. He knew peers and leaders were rooting for him and that kept him going. No matter where your team is in relation to the goal, they want to know their co-workers and their manager care and support their daily efforts. Share the great things that happen every day at team meetings and through team emails. Make an attempt to give specific credit in casual settings, as well. Talk up a great team member at the lunch table today—it shows you are paying attention and you are proud of their great work.

Rally around each another. Be aware when a team member needs support to reach a goal or even overcome a difficulty at home. This small town of modest means raised tens of thousands of dollars (during a recession) to keep a hometown hero going. Recognize what challenges each of your employees are facing. If they’re buried in orders at the end of a busy week, step in and organize a rescue party, which includes you helping too. We recently found ourselves in our basement storage room after a pipe burst and flooded our supplies. Now BobAnn Hall and Christy Chatelain led the effort and did the bulk of the work, but our entire team spent time working together to dry out training workbooks and toolkits. A minor disaster brought everyone closer together (and became the source of many new inside jokes).

Celebrate the victories. The neighborhood block parties Curt describes are the equivalent of the corporate team gathering (there really isn’t a corporate equivalent for street dances!). When your team reaches a goal, small or large, celebrate. Winning teams make merry often, it’s that simple. Block out a meeting room for a few hours and have everyone bring their favorite potluck dish. Get ‘em all mingling together with some food and music. Congratulate each team member on their specific contributions and remind them of all the great things they’re doing.

Curt was part of the gold medal-winning four-man bobsled team, an honor the U.S. hasn’t had in more than 60 years. This small town in Nebraska really has cause to celebrate—a home town medal winner and a hometown full of the champions who helped him get there. “They definitely deserve part of my medal,” Curt added. “I hope through this [Inspiration Award] they will know what they mean to me.”

And that leads us to one last tidbit of advice:

You can’t do it on your own. Look around today. You are surrounded by a potential Shelby, Nebraska. It’s your job to give your team a cause and inspire them to achieve gold-medal performances.