Leadership Lessons from Tom Brady: Building Strong Teams and Elevating Others

Since we are in the midst of my favorite season, football (college more so than pro), this is an opportune time to learn about leading teams from Tom Brady.

In our society we tend to focus on superstars and GOATs, which discounts and often ignores the reality that in team sports, and in business, no one succeeds alone. Great leaders help those around them shine by bringing out the best in their teammates.

Here’s what Tom and Nitin Nohria said in the September-October 2024 "Harvard Business Review" article "Tom Brady on The Art of Leading Teammates":

1.      Put the team first, always, even when facing personal adversity.
2.      Show appreciation for unsung colleagues.
3.      Set the standard and create a culture of 100% effort.
4.      Recognize teammates’ individual psychology and best ways to motivate them.
5.      Understand and complement the style of the formal leader.
6.      Recognize and counteract the external forces that can cause selfish behavior.
7.      Create opportunities to connect as people outside the office.

At Conover Consulting we’ve been helping clients build great teams for decades. Reach out to us at laura@conoverconsulting.com to hear more about what we can do to create better teams at your organization.