I saw and heard it all amid the noise, the excitement, the waving of many American flags, and so much more. It was surreal; heart pounding; thrilling; a dream for a sports fan; a dream for an American. It was February 22, 1980.
The location was Lake Placid, NY. The Olympic Ice Center was the venue for a late afternoon game. This was the moment many had been waiting for: The hockey team for the USA versus the Soviet Union’s team. This game would determine who would go on to the gold medal game. As portrayed in the movie “MIRACLE,” and as many of us know, the USA won that game. An incredible game at that. The team then eventually played and won the gold medal game against Finland.
Sports Illustrated selected the team’s victory over the Soviet Union en route to winning the gold medal as the No. 1 sports moment of the 20th century.
Why do I bring up the topic of the “Miracle on Ice?” This story is a perfect example of one characteristic (out of many) of a leadership legacy: TEAM/TEAMWORK. One must have a team and be a team player to succeed in leaving a positive legacy.
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. Michael Jordan
You’re looking for players whose name on the front of the sweater is more important than the one on the back. I look for these players to play hard, to play smart and to represent their country. Herb Brooks (Coach of the 1980 Hockey Team)
Teamwork is essential – it allows you to blame someone else. ~Author Unknown
That is one thing about TRUE team work – no one person should ever be blamed for a loss, a failure. But how does a team succeed? How does it win that gold medal? How does an individual be part of that and have a positive legacy? I believe the 1980 Hockey Team can teach us some lessons.
LESSONS
First, The team was not content, or complacent. We must never be content in our journey in life. Never be content? Never be so content that you become complacent. Always want to be better, to have personal growth in your life. This step is very important. If one becomes complacent, and is not interested in growing as an individual, then the hope for a positive leadership legacy could be dead. Don’t try to explain away your failures if you are complacent.
When a great team loses through complacency, it will constantly search for new and more intricate explanations to explain away defeat. Pat Riley
Second, just as the team had a game plan, you must have one too. I would go so far as to say each individual on the team needs an individual plan to develop and grow; to work on their strengths. Then the team needs a team game plan, based on the team members strengths. That plan needs to consider how to achieve goals. There are many growth plans one can use: www.maxwellplan.com (John Maxwell) and 7 Stage Personal Growth Plan at: http://suite101.com/article/a-seven-stage-personal-growth-plan-a46655 by Jerry Lopper. Just two of MANY plans available. (There is no financial benefit for recommending these plans.)
In every aspect of life, have a game plan, and then to your best to achieve it. Alan Kulwicki
I don’t have a game plan. I have no idea what I’ll be doing next. Michael Cristofer
Third, the team was determined to do their best and to win. They needed to carry out that game plan to the best of their collective ability. They were focused on being the best. Mario Andretti once said, “Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”
Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. Dan Gable.
Finally, the team had cohesiveness. The word means the act or process of sticking together tightly. They were individuals yet a unit. They played as one. You are not going to achieve anything if people are not with you; if they are going in different directions. It is self-defeating.
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Andrew Carnegie
THE END?
What about you? Are you tired of being complacent? Don’t you want to have a desire to grow and learn. Would you like to have a cohesive team working towards the same goals? Shall we end it here? Just read this and go on? We must move. Act. Do something. Just don’t read this and forget it. Let’s apply these lessons to our own lives. Would you join me in doing that??
What are your thoughts?
Contact Phil at pwalton@leadershipmpact for speaking engagements and professional training.
