Do you feel like a winner today?                        

Did your team hit its goals? Did you make progress?

Rosabeth Moss Kanter studied teams that win and teams that lose. She found that winning teams have some advantages over losing teams.

Winning teams:

• Have a better attitude.
• Enjoy hanging out with each other.
• Are more open to constructive criticism because they are confident in their ability to win; they are more open to other ways they can improve.
• Are more focused. Losing causes distractions and finger-pointing. Winning teams stay focused on the task.
• Have a positive culture of respect. To win consistently, teammates display skill and prove themselves accountable. Such behavior breeds respect among teammates.
• Create structures of support. In other words, winning is admired. Admiring people find ways to join aboard. The systems of support strengthen as you win.
• Provide continuity. As teams win, they desire to stick together. As teams lose, they break up; they try new players or leaders.

All this seems fairly obvious, but if you find yourself in a turnaround situation, where people are used to losing as compared to winning, it is essential to understand these dynamics.

With a turnaround team, start small:

• Create opportunities for quick wins. It improves the attitude.
• Celebrate the wins. It feels good hanging out with folks who are celebrating a win.
• Take advantage of the winning mindset by discussing ways to reach the next level. You are more willing to hear it when you are in a good mood.
• Communicate your admiration and respect for the progress.

It makes sense. Keep on winning out there.