Vince Lombardi and the Concept

Vince Lombardi and the Concept of Teamwork

"Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." -- Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) was the famous football coach and theorist who introduced many changes to the game that he loved. Coach Lombardi is known primarily for his football strategy and his tactical contributions (such as zone blocking); however, he contributed as much to the motivation concepts that have resulted in a legacy of successful athletes and teams in the National Football League (NFL).

From the perspective of motivational strategy, Coach Lombardi was tremendously influential through his emphasis of the idea that success is largely the result of teamwork instead of a focus on individual performance. Coach Lombardi reiterated this sentiment throughout his career; while many of his most notable speeches and anecdotes had to do with leadership and the fundamental desire to crave winning and detest losing, the legendary coach returned over and over to the idea that success in football, just as in so many other aspects of life, depends on mutual reliance, trust, and collaboration.

Coach Lombardi stressed that specific point many times, once saying that "People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society." Whether in sports, professional business, or military campaigns, Coach Lombardi always taught that very little can be accomplished without the help of other but tremendous heights of achievement are possible when "[t]he achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual."

However, Coach Lombardi was careful not to downplay the relative importance of all of the individuals within a team. He never suggested that individual effort was not crucial to the success of teams; rather, the coach taught that it is the context of individual effort that makes all the difference in the world. By the phrase "Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work," Coach Lombardi meant that individual effort is always important but that its value and importance increases exponentially when that work is contributed by the individual to a group effort. Individual contribution is important; individual contribution to the group effort is better; individual contribution as part of a team of equally qualified and equally dedicated individuals in synch with one another is ideal, whether in sports or other human endeavors.

Coach Lombardi also recognized the connection between individual motivation and greater commitment to a team. Specifically, the coach described his championship Green Bay Packers team as exemplifying that concept. According to Lombardi, "Teamwork is what the Green Bay Packers were all about. They didn't do it for individual glory. They did it because they loved one another."