Michael Jordan & The Power of Teamwork
It Takes a Team to Win
Don't Get Stuck Playing Solo
Fresh out of grad school at Columbia, I landed a consulting gig at Warner Bros working with a senior team. After one of the sessions, I headed over to the studio lot and walked into a massive, tented basketball court erected for Michael Jordan during the filming of Space Jam.
As I stood on the edge of the court, I finally understood why they called him “Air Jordon”. The guy was unreal to watch and also just so personal.
More Than Just Talent
As we chatted, I offered him a few tips and we both laughed. Speaking with him then, and following his carreer I recognized him as far more than just an extraordinary talent. Michael knew how to tap into the power of real teamwork.
WHAT IT TAKES
That was 1995 and I’ve been working with teams ever since. Here’s a few highlights from what I’ve learned—
Teams that challenge each other’s thinking to raise their collective intelligence win every time.
Most teams aren’t at their potential despite decades of advice on teamwork.
The number one reason teams tell me they struggle is that they don’t know how to respectfully challenge one another to make sure the best ideas win.