Adjusting Your Leadership Approach to Team Type
The term ‘team’ is often used so loosely that it can create confusion about the specific type of team leaders should be looking to build.
At its core; a team is a group of individuals who report to the same leader and are tasked with a collective focus within an organization.
However, a team also exists across the business. There are horizontal levels of managers/peers who are expected to be collegial and collaborate as a “management team.”
In my experience, a team can take one of three forms, and I liken this to hockey, baseball and football. Each type of team requires a different level of trust and team cohesion.
The Hockey Team
This team is what I would call the “true team” that is often referenced in leadership books and training sessions.
Trust and relational efforts need to be high in this type of team, as the team is required to perform in a rapidly fluid environment.
Although each player on the ice has a specific role in this team, no one is particularly tied to their position should an opportunity arise. You wouldn’t see the defence not take a breakout opportunity just because they’re a defence by definition.
This type of team requires respect, relational connection and psychological safety, which is often quoted in leadership books.
The Baseball Team
On the other hand, the Baseball team resembles more of a functional or professional approach to team performance.
This is my sales team, and although they wear the same jersey and want to put points on the board, winning requires a very individualized approach to team performance.
I once had a very “hockey-oriented” team leader who was building a sales team and wanted to emphasize team offsites, team relationships, etc. This was the wrong approach, as the value of this team is not spending time together internally but externally.
The only time a baseball team needs to work together is when they get on the bus to the next city. This team requires a foundation of mutual respect but doesn’t require high trust to succeed.
The Football Team
Most business units operate in a hybrid team, which I liken to the Football team.
In this type of group, there are teams within teams—offensive, defensive, and special teams—each playing its specific role and coming together when needed.
As an organization grows, it naturally transitions from playing as a hockey team, where we are all in this together, to a more functional structure, where it can’t be expected that every leader is involved in all decisions all the time.
This can be a personal challenge for those early leaders as they have to sit on the sidelines and watch the defence play. Their previous satisfaction and worth were based on being on the field or ice as much as possible.
Every Team Has an Organization Benefit
All three types of teams benefit organizations. However, each function/business needs to adopt a dominant style based not on the leader’s personal values/style but on the required structure to deliver an effective business strategy.
The hockey team is the best structure when the environment is fluid and uncertain. Think of an early start-up or a crisis situation (e.g., a pandemic strike, etc.).
The baseball team is best when the skillset and technical skill are more critical than group results, e.g., finance, sales, etc.
The football team is the most flexible and is best for cross-functional teams, leadership structures, and larger operations teams.
Key Takeaways
- Reflect on your natural leadership style. Are you most comfortable as a hockey, football or baseball coach?
- Considering your team, structure and current market conditions, what is the ideal structure needed for your current state? (hockey, football, baseball)
- Consider how you might adapt your leadership/coaching style to match your team’s style better.
