"The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual." -Vince Lombardi

Since the opening ceremonies in London last week, I have been watching the Olympics almost every night while doing work or just unwinding from the day. As I'm sure many of you have noticed, and those who have participated in sports already know, it is amazing to witness the sense of teamwork among members of the Olympic teams. Each athlete is committed to giving their best for personal reasons, but also committed to winning for their country and their team as well. It is this same type of commitment that leaders and managers seek to build in their teams on daily basis.

As I was watching the Olympic games, I began thinking about a few of the coaches I've had over the years, and the leaders/managers I have the privilege of working with in my professional career as well. With that in mind, below are a few of the similar characteristics I've noticed between leaders in sports and leaders in the professional realm.

Perhaps one of the most important characteristics of great leaders in both sports and business is their ability to build a sense of camaraderie. Bringing together the commitment of individuals to focus on a group effort is a characteristic of great leaders that absolutely cannot be overlooked. In the professional setting, this means understanding the talents and strengths of individuals and creating cohesive units or teams that can complement each other.

In addition to understanding how the talents of individuals complement the team as a whole, true leaders must also have the ability to get personal. By this I mean they are able to build strong relationships with each member of the team on an individual level. They understand what makes them tick, what motivates them, and, most importantly, what gets them to listen.

Finally, a great manager or coach knows when to let the talents/abilities of their players or employees run free. The fine art of management means you have the ability to put the right people in the right place at the right time, so that they can succeed. This will not only benefit the individual, but the greater team as well.

I'm sure many of you have heard the Aristotle quote, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." This is true both in sports and in business. When you have a team that works together and feeds off the great work of each individual, so much more can be accomplished than if you were to go at it on your own. So, as you seek to accomplish your mission as an organization, remember that a strong team will get you there much faster, and often times in a much more enjoyable manner, than if you tried to accomplish everything on your own.