Coachability: The Key to Developing Team Culture

Six-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Michael Jordan once said, “My best skill was that I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn.”

In addition to his tireless work ethic and natural ability, this attribute helped Jordan to become arguably the best-ever player in the NBA.

Jordan, and many successful people like him, recognize that coachability is paramount to the development of a team. They understand that humility, positivity, adaptability, and hard work are the foundational principles of achievement. They live and breathe these principles, encouraging others to do the same. Their influence is far-reaching and ultimately builds a resilient team culture.

Being coachable is for everyone, on any team, including your medical staff.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the need for coachability is more important than ever. It’s almost a matter of success or failure, with the outcome largely dependent on your team’s ability to apply the following:

• Humility. With our world in constant flux, humility is paramount. Why? Because humble people can work objectively with others to see possibility in new ideas. New ideas lead to new methods, which can result in improved productivity.

Humble people also recognize that many things cannot be done by a single person. They strive to establish a strong team, one that is comprised of people willing to “think outside the box,” to better address inefficiencies.

• Positivity. Now, more than ever, is a need for employees to practice positivity. According to Charles Swindoll, “Life is ten percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it.” Though we cannot immediately change our circumstances, we can instantly change how we respond to them. A positive attitude makes a bleak situation bearable.
• Adaptability. Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus coined the phrase, “Change is the only constant.” Everything changes—nothing remains the same. The ability to adapt allows us to become. This concept leads us to achieve, excel, and grow. It acknowledges failure and teaches us to forge through it. It is the basis of evolution, and evolution is necessary for longevity.
• Hard Work. There is absolutely no substitute for hard work.

No one has ever made gains without practical application. Great ideas only go so far without substantial elbow grease to bring them to fruition. It is hard work that eventually creates us all, including Michael Jordan, who was once devastated after being cut from his high school basketball team. He went to work and used hardship to inspire his long, lucrative career path.

In our COVID-19 world, being coachable may be the very thing to help us defeat the effects of this deadly virus. Perhaps it will inspire a complete modern evolution, even leading us to better business practices.