Uniting the members of your team

The Buffalo Bills hired a new coach last year. Because the players move from team to team throughout their careers, it is common for many of them to meet one another for the first time during summer training camp.

In order to bring his team together, the new coach asked two players at each meal to get up and tell their life stories. They described their childhood, the struggles they had, as well as people who inspired them along the way. The experience was profound. These tough, independent guys became a single unit, and the team experienced a dramatic turnaround.

Our heritage is an anchor to the past because everyone wants to feel part of something that preceded them. Karl Marx once wrote, “A people without a heritage are easily persuaded.” He was referring to nations, but the same principle is true of any organization. The people with whom you work every day have a unique heritage. By providing them with an opportunity to share their story, your team will experience genuine cohesiveness and a willingness to work together for the common good.