Teamwork ... the key to any successful organization

  • Published
  • By Col. Jay Flournoy
  • 349th Air Mobility Wing Commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  As a child I can remember always wanting to be part of a team and a winning team at that. Whether it was the local backyard pickup football game, organized little league baseball or the neighborhood kick-the-can game that lasted well into the evening, I wanted to be a part of a team. I think if we're on a team, we all want to be part of a winning team, the ones with the fastest runners, the best hitters or the highest jumpers. Deep down inside I think we also want to be on the team with the coolest uniforms, you know, the ones with plenty of room to put your name on the back.

Over time I've come to realize that it isn't the team with the best free throw shooter, the fastest swimmer or the best curve ball pitcher that is the most successful. Every team has their own superstars, but if the rest of the team is not fundamentally sound and totally committed to each other and a common goal, then overall team success can never be achieved. The legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said, "Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." The best pitcher in the league won't be successful if enough team members don't show up at game time and the team has to forfeit. The best field goal kicker can't kick the game winning extra point if the linemen allow the defense to block the kick. The fastest runner in the relay can't win if the other teammate drops the baton.

The individual abilities of superstars can only strengthen those teams who all work together as one, who respect their teammates, and who could care less who has the coolest uniforms or how their names will look on the back. Coach Joe Paterno, one of the most successful coaches in all of football, once said, "It's the name on the front of the jersey that matters most, not the one on the back." Next time you happen to watch the New York Yankees, one of the most successful teams of any sport, play baseball, take notice of the fact there are no player's names on the backs of their jerseys and only the team name on the front.

Team Travis is full of superstars and is a fine team with a proven track record. Over the past few months we've seen some of our superstars move on to other organizations and we've witnessed new superstars joining the ranks to take their place. In order to stay at the top of our game, it is critical we welcome our new players into the organization with open arms, make them feel part of the team, and ensure they understand the vision and goals of our team. Together as a team, we will find success evenly distributed on the shoulders of all of our teammates marching side by side to victory in a uniform we can all be proud of.