4 lessons from top-level sport to strengthen corporate teamwork

Why do we team up? The importance of vision

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Imagining the finish line, together

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In business, as in sport, vision is the common goal of all those who make up the company. It's the guideline that everyone is convinced of, and which mobilizes everyone's resources and skills.

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We have no doubt that the athletes who will be taking part in the Olympic Games in a few weeks' time have a clear vision: to win the gold medal. But in your organization, what is your course? Is everyone familiar with it? Is every member of your organization aware of the impact of his or her mission within the company, and how he or she contributes to achieving this goal? 

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Knowing and understanding your contribution to the shared vision gives meaning to the efforts you make to achieve it. In other words: you know what you're after!

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Turning this vision into a charter

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This vision should be the banner under which all team members can rally. And to be able to refer to it, anchoring it in a document seems like a good idea.

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This is the role of the Olympic Charter. It sets out the fundamental principles that unite athletes around shared values. Companies can draw inspiration from this charter to develop human resources strategies that not only motivate, but also align employees around an inspiring common goal.

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Anchoring the collective in everyday life through repetition

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Knowing your vision is the first step. Bringing it to life over time is a long-distance race. Teaming up within an organization means accepting the challenge of working together.

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And this "togetherness" is built every day. Just as sportsmen and women tirelessly rehearse their key moves during training sessions and meetings with their team, so companies need to establish rituals as the foundation of their operations and their collective.

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Collaboration and communication: the winning duo for high-performance teams

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In top-level sport, fluid and effective communication is essential within a team. And we're not just talking about team sports. Even individual sports are about collaboration. A Federer can't reach this level of play without his trainer, his physiotherapist, his sparring partner, his spouse, his mental coach, his chauffeur... It takes a village, as they say!

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To illustrate our point about the influence of communication quality on collaboration, let's take the example of handball. In this sport, on-field coordination is crucial to defense and attack, and relies on constant, concise communication.

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At every moment on the pitch, players gather precise information on the evolution of the game. These crucial clues need to be exchanged fluidly and rapidly to adapt team strategy on an ongoing basis.

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This communication dynamic is initiated by a leader or team captain (your equivalent of a manager) and is integrated and carried by all team members.

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In short, to give yourself the best chance of winning, you need: a clear direction, a well-oiled organization and well-oiled communication. A striker can't score without the support of his team-mates, who provide him with quality passes.

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Whether on the handball court or in open spaces, good communication is essential. It's a team effort, where every pass can be decisive!

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Perseverance and resilience: skills shared by athletes who have made history

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"I've missed 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I was trusted to take the winning shot and I missed. I've failed again and again and again in my life. And that's why I succeed." This quote from Michael Jordan, the two-time Olympic champion and six-time basketball MVP, teaches us two essential elements for achieving a goal. Failure is part of the journey. Perseverance and resilience are inherent to success.

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Of course, this means giving your teams the right to make mistakes, and providing a framework in which they can test and innovate while feeling supported.

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Today's businesses operate in changing economic and social contexts. And to survive against all odds, we can draw on this key notion from sport: understanding and analyzing why things didn't work out enables us to realign ourselves. This is the power of resilience in sport AND in organizations.

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The body: a powerful ally in reaching the heights of success

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Another lesson to be learned from athletes, and not the least, is that the body plays a crucial role in the quest for success. Even behind a desk, we're not just brains: our physical well-being directly influences our productivity, creativity and health. Combating sedentary lifestyles by providing adapted office spaces that integrate physical activity and regular breaks is not only beneficial, it's essential for long-term performance.

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Where athletes use their brains for physical performance, let's use our bodies for intellectual performance. You can't have one without the other!

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In conclusion, top-level sports teams are inspiring models of collaboration, respect and self-transcendence for companies: they give pride of place to the individual and the collective, bringing them brilliantly together. We love to study and draw inspiration from sport. But this summer, the most important thing is to celebrate it!