Imagine you are a leader who is aiming to build a team. Super teams get the right balance of warriors and warrior-wizards. (There is no space for ‘wannabe-wizards’ – those who have talent but are not prepared to work hard.) Let’s explore how you can identify the people you want in your team.

1) You can get a strong core of warriors.

Warriors love to work hard. They are responsible, resilient and have the ability to overcome setbacks. Disciplined by nature, they perform consistent work and will always get you to 7/10. Make sure at least 70% of your team are warriors. One leader said:

“Whenever I take over a new team, I ask myself: ‘If everybody left tomorrow and offered their services back as freelancers, who would I hire and what would I hire them to deliver?’ Frequently I start by ‘rehiring’ the responsible people who provide the foundation for the team. They are ‘parachute packers’ – people you would trust to pack your parachute – and give you the confidence to fly. Too often these people go unappreciated.”

Who are the warriors you already have in the team? Who are the warriors you would like to add? How can you keep encouraging these people? Try completing the following sentences.

The warriors I already have in the team are:

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The warriors I would like to add to the team are:

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The specific things I can do to encourage the warriors are:

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2) You add some warrior-wizards.

Warrior-wizards love to work hard - but they also provide that touch of magic. They have the talent, wisdom and imagination to make creative breakthroughs. Get at least 30% warrior-wizards in your team. They are the people who will make the difference when it matters. They will get the team to 10/10.

Sport highlights a key principle regarding talented people – one that has implications in other fields. An athlete may perform superbly at one level but, when moving to a higher stage, find themselves to be ‘average’. This frequently happens with rising stars as they climb the sporting ladder. Some naturally gifted athletes find this difficult. Previously life has been ‘easy’, because they succeeded via their raw ability. Progress now depends on working hard. Some find this daunting and choose to say: “Well, I could have made it if I had wanted.” Other athletes reframe the situation as a challenge. They say: “I was outstanding at one level, but now I am in the ‘pack’. I will work hard to make the best use of my talent.” Some go on to become outstanding at this higher level. This is a characteristic of warrior-wizards. They are prepared to work hard to succeed.

Take a look at your team. Who are the warrior-wizards? Who are the warrior-wizards you would like to add? How can you encourage these kinds of people? They may be gifted, but must choose to align their talents to serve the team. How can you do your best to make this happen? Try completing the following sentences.

The warrior-wizards I already have in the team are:

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The warrior-wizards I would like to add to the team are:

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The specific things I can do to encourage the warrior-wizards are:

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3) You can encourage everybody to be warrior-wizards.

Everybody can be a warrior-wizard in some area of their life. They can do the grunt work - then move onto the great work. They may or may not be able to do this in your team - but it is important to give them the opportunity. How to make this happen? One way is to use the super teams approach. First, communicate the team’s goals – the picture of perfection. Second, ask each person to show how they would like to contribute towards achieving the goals. Third, make clear contracts about their contribution. Encourage each person to focus on where they can continue to be warriors, but also add that touch of wizardry. You will then be more likely to build a wonderful team. Try completing the following sentence.

The specific things I can do to encourage
everybody in the team to be a warrior-wizard are:

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