If you have been watching the Winter Olympic Games you may have seen the US vs. Canada hockey game on Sunday, with an upset victory by the American team in the early tournament round. The commentators reminded viewers that it was 30 years ago today, February 22, 1980, that the young, upstart and untested US Hockey Team upset the proven and experienced Russian team, with Al Michael's famous "Do you believe in miracles" call.
The American team was mainly college recruits - the average age was 22 - as compared to the Russian and European teams who were more mature and talented. But their energy, enthusiasm and world-class conditioning were the keys to moving them through the tournament and towards Gold - together with a coach who never let them doubt their abilities, who pushed them to test the limits of their skills and their belief in themselves, and who helped them gel as a team. If there was dissent within the team he made himself the issue so that the athletes had a common target for their frustrations, and that created an even stronger bond between the young man.
And when they won the gold medal he slipped away to the locker room - so that the team would have the spotlight, and not him.
In today's world of high-profile, celebrity athletes and coaches, we could do well as corporate leaders by taking a page out of Herb Brook's book on how to build and fuel a high-performing team.
Their performance and accomplishments are still inspirational today - how cool is that!
