Justin Meeth

The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class

TeamBy: Mike Krzyzewski

Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s book on the process of building the 2008 Olympic men’s basketball team. The team was famously known as “The Redeem Team”.

Makes a list called the “Gold Standards”. These were his 15 goals for the team, which were all agreed on by everyone involved (coaches and players). These were the 15 guidelines Coach K facilitated his team to follow to achieve the most success, which in this case was winning the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal.

He talks about how the leaders of the group emerged and how each player on the team adapted to which ever role came their way.

Quick Summary of The Gold Standard

Common Goals Fist analogy

Gold standards- list of 15 goals made by the coaches and team.

Take the time to establish standards.

“Lets be ourselves” –Coach K

“I think we have to be a no excuse team.” – LeBron James

Family Common GoalsDo well in everything

we do (athletics, school, work). No excuses.

Family is your best support system

Fist analogy- stronger when we are on the same page.

“Excuses are like dirty socks, everyone has them and they all stink.”

- Mom

Forming- Team try outs for final rosterStorming- Communication & HonestyNorming- Communication & Honesty; Gold

StandardsPerforming- Gold standards put into actionAdjourning- Winning the 2008 Gold Medal

“The relationship that a leader wants to see develop among his or her team are based on communication.”

-Coach K

“Talk is contagious.” – Chris Bosh

Tuckman’s Theory

Building a relationship with communication and understanding between my brother, my mom, and myself. (Forming Storming Norming Performing)

When my mom got re-married 3 years ago we saw the building process start over in certain ways.

Tuckman’s Theory- Family

Team USA’s Group RolesCoach Krzyzewski-

Intiator/Contributor; Facilitator.

LeBron James- Leader; Opinion giver.

Jason Kidd- Leader; Energizer

Kobe Bryant- Leader; Information giver; coordinator

“Great teams have multiple leaders, multiple voices.” – Coach K

Group Roles In My FamilyKim (Mom)- Leader;

Coordinator; Energizer.

Johnny (older brother)- Encourager; Blocker.

Justin (me)- Information giver; Feeling Expresser

John (step-dad)- Opinion giver; Diagnostician.

“When you have a team filled with elite athletes in a professional sport, it is crucial to extinguish all egos. Otherwise, your overall collaboration as a team will suffer.” – Mike D’antoni , Assistant Head Coach of Team USA.

“Check your egos at the door.” – Jerry Colangelo, President of Team USA basketball operations.

Every single player or group member must adapt to the overall team goals.

Conflict and Competition

Conflict and Competition- Family

Sibling rivalries between Johnny and I- high school sports (lacrosse) and anything we could spark an argument on.

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say it at all.” - Mom

Reaching a Consensus- Team USA

Ultimate goal was to win the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal (Redeem Team)

All players had to accept list of the 15 “Gold Standards”.

Consensus was met to let go of all egos and to play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.

Reaching Consensus- Family

The 3 famous rules of Kim Arbolino (my mom) Johnny and I had to follow growing up:

1. My house my rules. 2. If you do poorly in school, you will not be able to participate in sports until they improve. 3. Be a leader and not a follower.