OBLD 641 Module 5

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The article by Akrivou, Boyatzis, and McLeod on intentional change theory (ICT) offers a valuable way to look at how teams grow and perform, especially when it comes to teamwork, purpose, and bouncing back from setbacks. ICT highlights how making intentional changes as a group can boost team spirit by syncing individual and team identities, which is crucial for long-term success (Akrivou et al., 2006).

When looking at the U.S. Women's Soccer team's achievements, the struggles of the U.S. Men's Basketball Dream Team in the early 2000s, and the ups and downs of the U.S. Ryder Cup teams over the last ten years, it's clear that how well a team develops intentionally can impact its overall performance.

The U.S. Women's Soccer Team's success comes from a strong bond and a shared purpose based on Intentional Cultural Transformation principles. They've built a clear vision that focuses on teamwork, resilience, and a supportive vibe that helps everyone grow, both individually and as a group. The team stays connected and strong by coming together around shared goals and turning challenges into bonding opportunities. They create positive vibes that help everyone adapt and work well together, also known as positive emotional attractors (PEA)(Fredrickson, 2001). With a focus on shared leadership and respect for one another, they develop a "one team" mindset (Akrivou et al., 2006). When they win, they celebrate together; when they lose, they see it as a chance to learn. This approach of constantly improving and holding each other accountable is crucial for keeping their performance at its best.

The 2000 and 2004 U.S. Men's Basketball Dream Teams struggled to come together like earlier teams. They had incredible individual talent but struggled to build a strong team culture that focused on shared goals. Integrated team culture theory states that teams must look beyond individual skills and develop a shared vision and motivation. This helps create a positive atmosphere that keeps everyone engaged and resilient. The issue with the Dream Team was that most players were used to being the stars on their NBA teams, which led to an overfocus on individual performance instead of working together as a team. Because not enough effort was put into group development and aligning around a shared purpose, the players often bumped heads, had trouble cooperating, and performed inconsistently (Carron et al., 2002). This meant they missed chances to really sync up and capitalize on their strengths as a unit.

ICT principles can help analyze the challenges the U.S. Ryder Cup team has faced over the last decade compared to the European teams. I added this because it is easier for me to connect to the source. I love golf, and I have connections with both teams. I have zero interest in U.S. football or basketball. European teams are good at creating a vibe of teamwork and focusing on a common goal, which often beats just going solo. The players embrace a "we" mindset, putting aside their own ambitions to win as a group. This attitude usually comes from growing up in a culture that values teamwork more than individual sports. It helps build a strong sense of identity within the team, which is essential for ICT's idea of team change. Plus, it boosts trust among team members, encourages everyone to take on shared responsibilities, and helps the whole group become more resilient (Carron et al., 2002).

On the flip side, U.S. Ryder Cup teams usually focus more on individual performance than on coming together as a group. The way the teams are picked often leads players to concentrate on their rankings and play, which doesn't create the same sense of connection or team spirit that the Europeans have. Because of this, during tough moments, the U.S. teams can lack unity and that shared goal to lift each other up when things get tough. Without a solid approach to team development that brings personal goals together with a strong team identity, they have a hard time building the camaraderie and resilience that really make a difference.

The success of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, the ups and downs of the Dream Team, and the struggles of the U.S. Ryder Cup team all show how important teamwork is for performance. Teams that embrace shared values and strong identities, like the U.S. Women's Soccer and the European Ryder Cup teams, usually do better under pressure and experience lasting success. On the flip side, teams that lack a clear vision and don't focus on developing together can falter, as seen with the Dream Team's mixed results in the early 2000s and the U.S. Ryder Cup team's inconsistent performances. In the end, building a strong sense of togetherness and purpose is vital to unlocking a team's full potential (Boyatzis, 2009).

References

Akrivou, K., Boyatzis, R. E., & McLeod, P. L. (2006). The evolving group: Towards a prescriptive theory of intentional group development. Journal of Management Development, 25(7), 689-706. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710610678490

Boyatzis, R. E. (2009). Competencies as a behavioral approach to emotional intelligence. Journal of Management Development, 28(9), 749-770. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621710910987647

Carron, A. V., Bray, S. R., & Eys, M. A. (2002). Team cohesion and team success in sport. Journal of Sports Sciences, 20(2), 119-126. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404102317200828

Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218-226. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066x.56.3.218

Kerr, G., & Leith, L. (1993). Stress management and athletic performance. The Sport Psychologist, 7(3), 221-231. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.7.3.221