It was one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history. In 2002, the New England Patriots topped the St Louis Rams 20-17. As defending champions, the Rams entered the game as the heavy favorite to win. Meanwhile, the Patriots had limped into the Super Bowl with two narrow playoff wins. In the Super Bowl’s 41-year history, only two other contests were predicted to be as lopsided as the Rams-Patriots match up.
One memorable moment occurred even before the kickoff when the teams took the field. As was tradition, the starters of the Rams were introduced individually. One by one the players strutted onto the field for a moment of personal glory –each player’s face prominently displayed on the stadium’s jumbo screens. Minutes later, the Patriots chose to enter the field as a single team – the announcer simply introducing “The New England Patriots”. The entire team, both starters and backups, raced onto the field as one.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had ingrained the value of teamwork into his squad. The Patriots may not have had an equal level of talent as the all-star performers on the Rams, but their effectiveness as a team carried them to the title. In a recent column, Chris Musselwhite comments on the qualities of winning teams, each of which was on display in the 2002 New England Patriots.
An effective team understands the big picture
As Musselwhite writes, “In an effective team, each team member understands the context of the team’s work to the greatest degree possible. That includes understanding the relevance of their and how it impacts the effectiveness of others and the overall team effort.” As demonstrated by their Super Bowl entrance, the Patriots dignified each player for his contributions to the team’s overall performance. Substitutes and role players were equally given credit for the team’s victories.
An effective team has common goals
The Patriots were bonded by a shared pursuit of American football’s ultimate prize. Players did not get caught up trying to accumulate personal statistics or achieve individual honors. They were of one mind in their goal of being the top team in the league.
An effective team works collaboratively, as a unit
As Musselwhite observes, “In an effective team you’ll notice a penchant for collaboration and a keen awareness of interdependency.” His words are truly spoken for a football team. For the quarterback to complete a pass, the wide receiver has to run the correct route, and the linemen have to block the defenders. Each play is a microcosm of teamwork, and the Patriots understood the importance of carrying out their assignments in a spirit of unity.
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+ This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell’s free monthly e-newsletter ‘Leadership Wired’ available at www.injoy.com
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