Defining Core Values and Goals for a Team
I recently had the pleasure of working with a highly competitive all-star team. The athlete’s are from teams that regularly compete against each other and then come play as an all star travel team. This takes place during the season. We were meeting to discus roles and goals which lead us in the direction of setting up core values and goals. I’ll do a blog on goal setting soon.
In business we might define this as our mission statement or company philosophy. For an athletic team I think core values hit it pretty well. Define who you are as a team, not so much in terms of what you want to accomplish, but to establish the backbone of the team. This way win or lose you have a foundation from which you can deal with most any situation. Core values can be modified over time, but serve to assist in continuity for new team members and changing rosters.
My suggestions for the team went something like this and I hope that this outline is useful to others.
1) Develop some Core Values for a Team
2) Write out this year’s and next year’s goals Performance & Outcome
3) Write out Process goals fitness, practice time, strategy, etc.
4) Everyone writes out their personal goals to help the team (individually at home) they can share one or two in a group session
5) Agree to and sign goals and core values
6) Agree to hold each other accountable for actions. This works as a team, and in pairs or groups of three. Sometimes 3’s are better, but it depends on team dynamics.
7) Visualize working as a team, striving to reach goals
8) Imagine greatness Remember to imagine what it will taste, feel, smell, or sound like reaching your goals
Their next step is getting together to brainstorm core values and write team goals. I believe this is beneficial in many team situations from the youth level up. Coaches and managers can develop the core values for teams. As players join the team they start out understanding these values. It helps avoid conflict down the line.

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