Since moving to Cleveland ten years ago, I have watched many disappointing seasons for Cleveland sports teams. A common statement heard by Clevelanders all over the city every year is “this is our year.” Every year could be the year for multiple Cleveland teams including the Indians, Browns and Cavs and every year seems to bring disappointment and frustration for the fans, players, and owners alike. The most disappointing and frustrating event for me thus far was the Cavaliers loss in Eastern Conference Semi-Finals to the Boston Celtics. Cleveland fans all over watched the final three games of the series in disbelief and shock. How could a team with that much talent suffer such a devastating loss in game four? The loss was so disappointing that the fans actually booed their home team.
For those who watched the Cavs during the regular season and during the previous series, there was an obvious difference in performance of the team. While some fans even questioned the pre-game antics and the unspoken language the team had seemed to develop in the regular season, they couldn’t question the results of the winning team. There was an obvious chemistry that existed among the talented members that seemed to vanish in their final series of the season. While there has been much speculation and a host of rumors that has circulated around the reason, those outside of the organization are still clueless as the catalyst of this change.
You may ask why I am writing about the Cavs in a human resources blog. The answer is simple; the Cavs didn’t lose because they lacked the talent to win. Building the most talented team in your industry doesn’t guarantee a win in crucial moments. The team has to work together toward the same goal. There are a host of reasons that teams lose their chemistry. The challenge is to identify when it’s happening and find a solution before the big game.
What thoughts do you have? What have you done in your role to build team chemistry?
Your thoughts are always encouraged!
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Sheri Mazurek is a training and human resource professional with over 16 years of management experience, and is skilled in all areas of employee management and human resource functions, with a specialty in learning and development. She is currently employed as the Human Resource Manager at EmployeeScreenIQ, a global leader in pre-employment background screening.