U.S. Hockey Teamwork - Is chemistry really more important than talent on a team?

Is chemistry really more important than talent on a team? The answer as far as I am concerned is a resounding yes! There is no "dream team" without talent of course. But take away the ability to create chemistry, and it won't matter if you have the very best talent in the land, the only dreaming you will be doing is about what could have been.

You would think that any team with impeccable talent would get perfect results. But there have been a number of loaded teams that refute such a thought. The U.S. 2006 World Baseball Classic team put together some of the best players to play the game including Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, but couldn't beat Canada, Mexico or South Korea and failed to qualify for the semifinals with a sixth place finish. The 2004 U.S. Olympic basketball team, with arguably the best individual talent of any team in the 2004 Olympics, consisting of a number of NBA stars, finished third. There have been other "dream teams" in business, movies, music etc... that have also not lived up to expectations.

Then there is the "Miracle on Ice" U.S hockey team of 1980. And how about this winter's olympic U.S. hockey team who have already won three games including Sunday's huge victory over talent loaded Canada; on Canadian ice? It is interesting to note that both teams chose players based on chemistry, not talent alone. Both teams opted for team players more than talent.

How do you find players on your team that fit? What are some of the techniques you use to get the right type of team players? We can all learn from you. Please comment below. Thanks.

Mike Rogers

 

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Comments

[Malcolm Leal]

Hello Mike:

The pages of history are littered with very talented people that ultimately failed to ascertain success in their lifetime. However, history has been made by ordinary people with tenacity, consistency, perseverance and LOTS of hard work. The byproduct of these traits and behavior is always excellence and the development of superlative talents.

What you call "chemistry" we call in military jargon (translated from my native Spanish dialect) "operational fit." It is the seamless fit of the pieces in a unit that creates synchronicity, flawless execution and effectiveness.

Give me consistent, dedicated, tireless, reliable, persistent men. You can keep the "talented".

[Paul Jones]

Hi Mike:

I always think of Michael Jordan and Bill Russell.

Bill Russell may have been the greatest defender in league history and Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

And yet Russell has 11 NBA championships, 2 NCAA championships and 1 Olympic Gold medal. Jordan? He has a 'just' six NBA championships.

The difference? Russell was hands-down a better team player

[Mike Rogers]

Thanks for your comments Malcom and Paul.

Malcom, I agree with you, those traits you talk about are team traits in my opinion.

Paul, great points. I did not know Russell had won so many. So the question is, would you take Jordon on your team or Russell?

Mike

[Harry Lebovitz]

Mike, Behavioral Compatibility can win over talent. Look at the Pistons-Lakers of a few years ago and the American Ryder Cup Team at Oakland Hills. The clear talent, the Lakers (Kobi and Shaq), the winners, the Pistons--the clear talent, the Americans (Tiger and Mickelson), the winners, the Europeans. We have done a lot of work addressing the behavioral side of team performance (mostly technical/project teams) supported by an exceptional software product that comes about as close as you can imagine to dealing with behavioral issues, empirically. Project teams fail to achieve budget, spec and scheduling results far more often because of behavioral compatibility than because of technical incompetence.

We have written a pretty interesting article on the Behavioral Side of Project Team Performance if anyone is interested in a copy.

[Mike Rogers]

Excellent points Harry. I have always believed and relationships are at the heart of strong performance on teams. They definitely need to need to be compatible.