Like a team or as a team?

Last time, I talked about internal branding. About how building a tribe internally (staff, collaborators, partners, etc.) can add up to way more than just assembling a team.

How do I know?

Because basketball. 

See, it’s become pretty common for the most powerful NBA players to jump from team to team. They often join forces with 1, sometimes 2 other heavy hitters. 

The yearly pattern is the same (in recent memory at least): Everyone (myself included) is like, OH SHIT this team is totally going to dominate...

And then?

It doesn’t always work. It doesn’t even work most of the time. In fact, I’d argue that most of these recent teams have been huge disappointments.

Why?

Because these are powerful, extremely skilled individuals acting like a team. They are not acting as a team. 

They’re playing for themselves, not for something bigger.

As an individual superstar it makes sense. Play your ball, get your numbers, get your money. 

But as a company, it pays to care about and build your internal brand. 

Among other things, it can bring individuals together to act as one toward a shared goal.