“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” — Michael Jordan

Thanks for joining me for our final segment of “No-bull lessons from the Bulls.” So far, we have talked about:

• Think “we,” not “us” and “them”
• Recognize everyone’s contribution
• Promote the team
• Create healthy traditions

Today’s lesson about turning talent into team is:

Practice, practice, practice . . . it takes commitment and time. Michael Jordan was with the Bulls for six years before they had their first championship season, Pippen three years, and Jackson one year. Becoming “team” isn’t instantly achieved. It is difficult to get people thinking outside of their own silos and thinking about the greater success of the team. This takes time.

Succeeding as a team is about having a game plan that envisions what “team” looks like in your nonprofit, then practicing day in and day out to execute that plan. Sometimes, you will execute well and win the game. Sometimes you will find flaws in your plan or fail to execute it properly — and you will lose the game.

Remember, even the Bulls didn’t win every game. But they persevered. They stuck to the plan. They were committed. And over time, this paid off with multiple championships. What’s your plan? Are you running your drills so that your execution of team becomes ingrained in your organization?

It’s not just about having “talent;” it’s about having talent who know how to work together as a team.