'Lionel'

Did you enjoy watching Messi at the World Cup? Yes, at times it was truly breathtaking. But, even setting aside Dutch chauvinism, what kind of (tough) team was that? Coach Lionel Scaloni reportedly assembled a team of disciplined players around star player Messi. Is that the right thing to do, or is Erik ten Hag—who let Ronaldo leave Manchester—right?

That question comes up in our organizations, too. It’s okay for a manager to go easy on the best person on the team when they cut corners on their chores. Or does “our star performer,” just like everyone else, simply have to do their share? Are we unequal but equal in value? How does unequal treatment affect the team, and how does the team respond to it? Should we work around it, or address it directly?

Of course, the opposite situation is also common. How do we deal with the underperformer who doesn’t measure up but always manages to get away with it? The team member who has survived so many reorganizations, who always manages to get back on good terms just in time. Do you address the person directly, or make a mean joke during the morning meeting? Here, too, it’s a matter of either turning a blind eye or calling it out.

The issue of team dynamics becomes even more interesting when the boss isn’t performing well. Hoping that he or she will leave on their own is a time-consuming strategy. But bypassing the boss by complaining to his or her superior creates a great deal of uncertainty. What works? Should you work around the issue or address it head-on?

A top-level sports coach taught me that all relationships within the team are equally important. It’s not just about, for example, the older or younger players, or players who’ve known each other for a long time versus those who are new. On the field, every relationship counts. Otherwise, they’ll start playing around each other—a problem you don’t notice when you’re up 5–0, but one that immediately becomes an issue when you’re behind. The key is to address it. And (proactively) investing in one another, in an ever-changing lineup—n:n! A team is only as strong as its weakest relationship.

So, addressing the issue is the only remedy. Bringing it to the forefront. If the lines of communication aren’t open, the team can’t engage in learning. Make interpersonal dynamics a regular item on the agenda, and retreat a few times a year to develop a TOP plan: Team, Development, and Plan. Clarity on all fronts—both in terms of content and relationships. This includes giving each other feedback, creating a battle plan, a rallying cry, and a shared goal and vision.

I assume that we all work in an environment where you advance your career by doing things well, not by avoiding mistakes. It’s like elite sports, where the team’s lineup—including the coach—is a regular topic of discussion.

Of course, Lionel Messi was the defining figure, but without coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina would not have become world champions. He made all relationships open to discussion, including his own. He set a clear mission and assembled a dedicated team. It was a tough task, to be sure, with drawbacks for soccer in general and our Dutch national team in particular. But there’s no denying the quality of Lionel’s team performance.