How Great Teams Are Built (And Why Yours Isn’t Yet)

If you're feeling like your team is losing to the competition and you can't figure out why, then you are not alone! Your efforts to build a great team might not be working as expected, and instead of improved performance, you might be experiencing disengagement and frustration among your team members. It's time to turn things around and create a winning team culture that drives success.

Uncover the surprising twist that takes employee engagement to the next level. You won't believe how a simple shift in perspective can transform teams from average to extraordinary. And the best part? It's a game-changer for any business, regardless of industry. Stay tuned to find out how this unexpected approach leads to exceptional team performance and leaves your competition in awe. You won't want to miss this!

Build Great Teams with Collaboration Creating a culture of collaboration within teams fosters innovation and productivity. By encouraging open communication and teamwork, organizations can leverage the diverse skills and perspectives of their members. Collaborative efforts lead to enhanced problem-solving and creativity, driving the team towards success.

This week's special guest is Don Yaeger

Don Yaeger, a distinguished journalist and accomplished author, boasts an extensive background in sports and business. As the author of 40 books, including 12 New York Times bestsellers, Don's expertise is widely recognized. With a focus on team dynamics and leadership, his insights are particularly valuable for business leaders and managers seeking to optimize team performance and engagement.

Don's in-depth research and comprehensive understanding of high-performance principles make him a respected authority in the realm of team building and organizational excellence. His wealth of experience positions him as a leading figure in providing practical strategies and actionable advice for enhancing team effectiveness and driving overall success in the business landscape.

This is his story:

Don Yaeger, a seasoned journalist and author, shares his journey of discovering the elements that make great teams in business. With a career spanning big newspapers and Sports Illustrated, Don's insatiable appetite for learning led him to write 40 books, with 12 becoming New York Times bestsellers. His relentless pursuit of knowledge didn't stop there; he also hosts the Corporate Competitor podcast, where he delves into the wisdom of successful individuals.

Don's immersion in the world of great teams didn't happen overnight. Over a decade, he meticulously studied top-performing sports teams like Nick Saban's Alabama football team and the mid-90s Chicago Bulls, as well as outstanding businesses like Delta Airlines and Chick Fil A. This deep dive culminated in his book "Great Teams," where he identified 16 key differentiators of exceptional teams. Don's journey is a testament to the power of continuous learning and the relentless pursuit of excellence, inspiring leaders and managers to cultivate a culture of growth and engagement within their teams.

Great teams are committed to things that average teams aren't. They're committed to things like creating an environment where employees believe that they're locked into each other and that they're beholden to each other, that they're better because of each other. - Don Yaeger

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Uncover the secrets to building great teams that drive business success.

• Explore the crucial role of culture in achieving outstanding team performance.

• Implement powerful strategies to boost employee engagement and motivation.

• Harness the impactful leadership techniques that drive exceptional team performance.

• Discover invaluable insights from success stories in sports and business.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - The Importance of Having a Sense of Purpose 00:07:36 - What Makes Great Teams Great 00:11:49 - Building a Team Others Want to Join 00:13:07 - Overcoming Complacency 00:14:28 - The Power of Coaching and Success Principles 00:16:06 - Success Leaves Clues 00:17:56 - The Role of Team Behavior 00:21:36 - Culture, Behavior, and Habits 00:27:02 - The Power of Purpose 00:29:14 - The Importance of Team Commitment 00:30:43 - Making a Difference in Business 00:34:48 - Employee Engagement and Impact 00:36:35 - What Makes Great Teams Great 00:40:26 - Don Yaeger's All-Time Favorite Movie

Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:00 - The Importance of Having a Sense of Purpose Don Yaeger emphasizes the importance of not just knowing, but feeling the sense of purpose within a team. He discusses how the best teams believe they are part of something bigger than themselves. 00:07:36 - What Makes Great Teams Great Don Yaeger shares his insights on what makes great teams stand out, highlighting the importance of continuous learning, mentoring culture, and a strong sense of purpose as key factors in achieving greatness. 00:11:49 - Building a Team Others Want to Join Don Yaeger discusses the significance of being the team that others aspire to join. He emphasizes the importance of being the organization that people are working to figure out how to join, rather than the team losing people to competitors. 00:13:07 - Overcoming Complacency Don Yaeger addresses the issue of complacency and its impact on organizations. He discusses how human nature can lead to complacency, and the importance of staying vigilant and continuously improving, even during times of success. 00:14:28 - The Power of Coaching and Success Principles Don Yaeger shares how he coached his son's losing team and emphasized success principles to turn the team's performance around. 00:16:06 - Success Leaves Clues Don Yaeger discusses the importance of studying successful individuals and teams to learn from their experiences and apply those lessons to achieve greatness. 00:17:56 - The Role of Team Behavior Don Yaeger emphasizes the significance of team behavior, communication, and camaraderie in achieving success, rather than solely crediting coaching for a team's victory. 00:21:36 - Culture, Behavior, and Habits Don Yaeger explains how culture shapes behaviors, which in turn form habits leading to sustained excellence, highlighting the importance of intentionally designing a positive culture within organizations. 00:27:02 - The Power of Purpose Don Yaeger shares how a sense of purpose and belonging to something bigger than oneself is crucial for team success, using the example of USA Basketball's transformation under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. 00:29:14 - The Importance of Team Commitment Don Yaeger discusses the importance of basketball players respecting and honoring members of the United States armed forces, emphasizing the responsibility they have as representatives of their country. 00:30:43 - Making a Difference in Business Yaeger shares a story about Medtronic, showing how bringing in families to thank employees for their work makes them realize the impact they have on people's lives, fostering a sense of purpose in their work. 00:34:48 - Employee Engagement and Impact The conversation highlights the significance of employees believing that their work makes a difference and the impact it has on their engagement and satisfaction, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization. 00:36:35 - What Makes Great Teams Great Yaeger emphasizes that great teams are committed to creating an environment where employees feel connected and responsible for each other, believing that their work changes lives and treating them differently than other organizations would. 00:40:26 - Don Yaeger's All-Time Favorite Movie Yaeger shares his favorite sports movie, "Hoosiers," emphasizing the idea of coming together to achieve amazing things, reflecting the themes of teamwork and commitment discussed in the episode.

Importance of Culture in Teams Culture forms the foundation of a team, shaping behaviors, attitudes, and values. A positive and inclusive culture cultivates trust and unity among team members, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose. Leaders play a crucial role in shaping and nurturing a culture that empowers individuals and drives collective success.

Effective Employee Engagement Strategies Engaged employees are more productive, motivated, and committed to the organization's goals. Implementing strategies that recognize and value employees' contributions fosters a sense of ownership and loyalty. By soliciting feedback, offering growth opportunities, and promoting a healthy work-life balance, leaders can create a work environment where employees thrive and contribute their best work.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Connect with Don Yaeger on LinkedIn for more insights and inspiration on building great teams.

• Visit Don Yaeger's website at donyaeger.com to explore his work, books, and speaking engagements.

• Check out the Corporate Competitor Podcast at corporatecompetitorpodcast.com for valuable leadership and team-building content.

• Explore Leadfeeder for real-time website visitor tracking and lead engagement to revolutionize your lead generation and sales efforts.

• Download Fly Message for free to save time and increase productivity with a personal writing assistant and text expander.