How Team Sports Is Like the Workplace

How Team Sports Is Like the Workplace

Just like a basketball team, or any sports team for that matter, we all have a role to play at work. For example, just as a power forward, guard and center have specific roles to fill on the basketball court, a cashier, accountant and manager have specific roles to fill in the office. Different organizations allow more or less freedom within each specific role, but the bottom line is that if no one follows their role, you will have chaos rather than a winning team.

People always say that playing on teams will help you in life. My coaches told me that, but now that I am older. I believe it. I’ve always felt like it’s helped me in numerous ways.  It’s helped me to work with others in a collaborative manner.  It’s helped build in me a drive to contribute to the overall goal, trying my best to make a big impact while observing the contributions of others.

I have been playing basketball for almost ten years. The size of my teams ranged from 10 at the youth level to upwards of 15 in college. I developed some of the closest relationships on these teams, many of which I’ve held onto until today.  My dearest friends, as a matter of fact, are former teammates of mine. But I also played with some guys I absolutely could not stand and others with whom I was indifferent. That’s part of the beauty of sports and that's how business is. I played with, joked with, ate lunch with, and traveled with guys with whom I would have never come into contact under any other circumstance. You meet people and develop relationships with them and some even last a lifetime.

If you have any Questions or feedback feel free to talk to me in class or send me an email.

Benefits of teamwork in a workplace envirorment

The Importance of Working Together as a Team

One of the major benefits of teamwork is getting things done in less time if all the members contribute to their part. When leaders involve their teams to brainstorm together to find a solution, they will get many different and creative ideas. This effort will enable them to implement the best action plan and assign the tasks to the people involved. When everyone in the team knows that he has a part in the process and the end result, he will put in the efforts to get it completed. 

 I know this from a personal experience being part of my school's basketball team throughout middle school and high school. In sports you can't do everything yourself. You need your teammates. Everyone has their own position to play.

Teamwork helps individuals raise their self-esteem. Everyone wants to feel important and needed. When each person is aware of his role and that he is part of a team, he gets a sense of belonging. He will use his talents and creativity to do his best. 

Teamwork promotes unity, rapport and bonding. When people work together, they are able to give and take, help and support one another because the main focus is to accomplish their mission. If you have been part of a school team, you will know what I am referring to.

Here is a Short Youtube video of ant demonstrating the power of teamwork. By itself , One ant can only go so far without needing help from the other ants.

  

How do sports teach teamwork?

Sports teach the aspect of teamwork because they have to work with other people in order to achieve the same goal. It makes you not worry about what you're doing, but working together to get done what needs to be done.

Team sports teaches teamwork because, you the individual need to preform your duties/ responsibility to the best of your ability and expect the same from your teammates, in order for the team, to perform at the best of its ability. This can be related to a work place setting. In order for a company to be successful, you need to have hard working employees.


On businessnewsdaily they say  "Good luck is hard work".

'The best kind of luck — those unexpected discoveries we call serendipity — is the luck we attract to ourselves, they say.  Good luck — serendipity — is part of a virtuous cycle. That notion was recognized early on by one of our nation's founding fathers.'

Types Of activitys you can do with your Co-Workers

There are many types Of activities you can do with your Co-Workers.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, How Does a workplace environment benefit from Sports it doesn’t have to be sport. There are probably more than a few people at your workplace who don’t want to play sports or feel intimidated. Activity is key, and offers many of the benefits of team sports.

Here are some examples:

• Set up an early morning or lunch time running or walking program
• Arrange employee-led aerobics or yoga classes in the workplace, or at a community center or church facility
• Provide bike racks, change rooms and showers for employees who want to cycle to work

If you have any Questions or feedback feel free to talk to me in class or send me an email.

How Does a workplace enivorment benefit from Sports

Team activities, whether organized or informal, offer numerous health benefits,both physical and mental. As a result, they can be a perfect fit for enhancing workplace wellness.

Companies gain many advantages by encouraging employee health through a workplace wellness program.

When administered properly, even something as simple as a walk can lead to

 

• Increase employee productivity
• Engender a healthier workplace culture
• Support a corporate health vision
• Improve the employer’s ability to attract and retain valued employees

Furthermore, the Conference board of Canada has found that participating in sport:

http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=1340

“Develops a wide range of skills and attitudes, including teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, communications, personal management and administrative skills. Sport also builds character and personal qualities such as courage and the capacity to commit to a goal or purpose, as well as values such as respect for others, self-discipline, a sense of fair play and honesty.”

But, as I mentioned, it doesn’t have to be sport. There are probably more than a few people at your workplace who don’t want to play sports or feel intimidated. Activity is key, and offers many of the benefits of team sports.

Here is a video of Caz makepeace on youtube talking about the importance of teamwork