This past week I had the opportunity do a little work with an old client. My business partner, Sharon Armstrong, and I had worked intensely with this company for two years but have not worked with them for about three years. It is always unclear as to how those who we coached during that intensive work period will respond after that big a break in the action.

The work we did starting 5 years ago literally transformed the culture of the organization and how they worked with each other. The problem with transformation is that over time the work tends to be invisible. It seems that the current level of workability was always œthat way and that there is another level which, of course, there is.

Do they have the same issues and concerns? Absolutely! Do they deal with them at a much higher level of effectiveness? No question. Given life is a process there is no œanswer that is permanent. At the highest levels people have an acute awareness of their responsibility in creating a life that works. It is fundamentally a life that is about other people.

For over 50 years I have coached people. In the world of athletics my sport was basketball. Last Monday night we saw two teams battle for a NCAA championship; Butler University and the University of Connecticut. Sentiment was on the side of Butler University and talent on the side of UConn. UConn records their 3rd NCAA championship.

Why do I bring this up? We will never really know how good either team really is. What!?! Are you nuts!?! These are thoughts you are probably having. Didnt they just play for the championship?

Yes, they did. They went on long winning streaks to get there. However, sometimes winning clouds the picture. What I would be interested in is how both teams respond to their new circumstance, i.e., winning and losing. Will the loser bounce back? Will the winner remain steady and solid? Do they continue to learn, grow and build the relationships they have on the team? That is when you will know who had the best team. It isnt always the team with the œW on the scoreboard.

I digress. Even though it had been three years since our last work with the client I mentioned we were warmly welcomed and I think genuinely so. I am sure that the newcomers to the company that hadnt worked with us before were a little puzzled but all in all it was great to be back.

The more you understand yourself the less energy you need to put into your little world and the more energy you have to give to the very big world of œothers. The road to being a championship team is paved with the concern I have for my teammates and our collective ability to get up off the floor after a loss with great enthusiasm and appreciation for the people who played the game with us.

For those of you who have an interest in coaching any kind of team you might want to get a copy of my latest book which is called œThe Art of Losing”Coaching Athletics and Thriving in a Made-for-TV World. It is available on lulu.com or vervante.com