What can businesses learn from sports teams? Quite a bit, actually.
Whether you're leading employees, volunteers, or an entire organization, the strongest teams aren't built by accident. They are built intentionally.
Listen to the Build Better Teams Podcast Episode #15 that accompanies this blog below...
What can businesses learn from sports teams?
On this recent episode of the Build Better Teams podcast, I sat down with sports management consultant and facilitator Lara Schroeder of Spark Solutions to discuss what successful sports organizations can teach us about leadership, communication, and team culture.
One of the biggest lessons? Processes matter.
Too often, organizations operate on sheer willpower. Leaders become overwhelmed, communication breaks down, and team members are left guessing about their roles. Whether you're managing employees or volunteers, clear expectations and intentional communication create stronger teams and better outcomes.
Another key takeaway is that leaders don't always have to facilitate everything themselves. Bringing in an outside facilitator for strategic planning, team-building workshops, or leadership retreats can create space for every voice to be heard and encourage more honest conversations.
That's one reason I love using LEGO® Serious Play® workshops with teams. These hands-on experiences help organizations improve communication, strengthen collaboration, and develop actionable strategies together. Instead of simply talking about problems, teams actively build solutions.
Successful sports teams also remind us to celebrate wins, persevere through challenges, and work toward a common goal. Those same principles apply to businesses, nonprofits, and organizations of every size.
Because great team culture doesn't happen by chance.
It happens by design.
If your organization is looking to improve communication, increase employee engagement, or facilitate a strategic planning retreat, I'd love to help. Through Build Better Teams Consulting, I provide team-building workshops, leadership retreats, strategic planning facilitation, and LEGO® Serious Play® experiences designed to help organizations collaborate, communicate, and grow together.
Ready to build a better team? Let's connect.
Connect with Lara Schroeder:
Spark Solutions website
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lara-schroeder
Instagram: @sparkplay306
