Winning stories invariably revolve around an iconic CEO, statesman, MVP, inventor, prize winner or team leader. We attribute most successes to one person – a hero. Conversely we attribute failures to an incompetent CEO, rogue ideologue, unfit leader or a bad team member – a scapegoat. 

Neither is the result of one person, ever. 

Some say that that’s the price you pay for leadership – you get all the credit or the blame. While true, this is more an effect than the cause. 

Firstly, we look for simple explanations when things go really well or badly. 

Secondly, and more dishearteningly, we don’t really acknowledge the work of teams, or that all noteworthy outcomes need a large number of people to work together in some way.

Don’t spend more time assembling a team of stars, and not enough on building a star team. Don’t fix individual players only, and not the team culture. Redefine the smallest unit of measurement as the team for shared goals and incentives.

And if possible, don’t believe that one person is what it took to do anything good or bad. 

Photo by Karim MANJRA on Unsplash