The Power of a Positive Team

At the start of the season, two college basketball teams receive identical state-of-the-art training facilities, the same nutrition plans, and playbooks filled with proven strategies. On paper, they are equals. Yet, by mid-season, their paths have violently diverged. One team is a dysfunctional mess of finger-pointing and quiet resentment. Players hoard the ball, coaches yell in frustration, and the locker room is thick with an energy you can feel from the cheap seats. The other team, however, plays with a fluid, almost telepathic connection. They celebrate each other’s successes, pick each other up after mistakes, and exude a palpable joy that turns their arena into a fortress. The talent was the same, the resources were identical. The only variable was the invisible force field of culture—the shared beliefs, attitudes, and connections that determined whether the team would implode or ignite.

This exact dynamic fascinated Jon Gordon, a consultant who has spent his career inside the locker rooms and boardrooms of the world’s most successful organizations, from the Los Angeles Rams to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He saw firsthand how a team's internal energy was a far greater predictor of success than its raw talent. He noticed that while many leaders talked about culture, few understood how to intentionally build it. Frustrated by the number of talented teams sabotaged by negativity, he wrote 'The Power of a Positive Team' as a practical guide to capture the simple, actionable principles that transform a group of individuals into a united, positive, and powerful force.

Module 1: The Foundation of Culture

The first thing to understand is that positive teams are made, not born. A strong, optimistic culture is the essential foundation. It’s the collection of beliefs, values, and behaviors that define how a team operates. This culture drives everything. It shapes expectations, which in turn drive actions. Ultimately, those actions determine the team’s future.

Many leaders mistakenly focus only on results, what Gordon calls the "fruit." But this approach is flawed. Instead, you must focus on the root, which is your culture, to get the fruit, which are your results. Think of the Miami Heat's coach, Erik Spoelstra. After a tough season, he shifted his focus. He stopped spending all his time on game film and strategy. Instead, he invested most of his energy into cultivating the team’s culture. He knew that a strong root system of relationships and shared values would produce the wins he wanted. Similarly, when Southwest Airlines was advised to charge for checked bags to boost revenue, they refused. Why? Because it violated their core culture of friendly, low-cost travel. By protecting their cultural root, they attracted more customers and grew their market share, proving that a healthy culture yields sustainable results.

So, how is this culture created? Culture is co-created by everyone on the team through their daily thoughts, words, and actions. Every single person contributes. The author shares a story from his lacrosse days. He chased down an opponent, forced a turnover, and helped his team win. That single act of effort wasn't just a play; it was a contribution to a culture of resilience. Even if you're part of a larger, negative organization, you can create a positive micro-culture within your own department. This can inspire other teams and eventually transform the entire company.

And here's the thing. Each individual is contagious, so you must choose to be a source of positive energy. Research from institutions like Harvard and the Heart Math Institute shows that your emotions are literally broadcast to those around you. Your mood, good or bad, is as contagious as the flu. A positive team is a collection of individuals who consciously choose to be "Vitamin C" for their colleagues, not germs. They are fountains of energy, not drains. This doesn't mean you have to be an extrovert. It means you genuinely share your passion and purpose, creating a reinforcing cycle of positivity that lifts everyone.