Last week, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series for the second time in four years. The New England Patriots have also won half of the last six Super Bowls. This got me thinking: Is winning in sports contagious? And then, the bigger question: Is excellence contagious?
I think the answer to both questions is, yes.
Imagine yourself a member of the Red Sox during the 2004 season. Your team has not won a World Series since 1918. Meanwhile, in the 2001-2002 season, the Patriots had won their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Do we believe that Red Sox players saw the heroics of Tom Brady and company? Of course they did. Did their performances have an impact on Sox players? Here, the answer must be conjectured, but it's hard for me to believe that the sight of the local football team winning must have had some effect on the entire Red Sox organization.
After all, though seasonal, pro sports teams vie for the affections of their fans. A winning team in one sport raises fan (front office?) expectations for all. It's possible that it's coincidence that the records of the Patriots and Red Sox have improved in tandem. But I think it's unlikely. More likely is that those highly powerful human motivators, pride and competition, came into play.
Think about your own experience. Is your performance affected by your work context? Many of us have had the good fortune of being part of a great project team, one that refused to settle for anything less than the best from each of its members. I certainly have. And I know that my performance in those situations has been better because of it. Conversely, we all know that moment when we realize that our organization is simply not stepping up to its challenges, not delivering excellent work, not good enough...and felt our own motivation and energy slowly slip away.
This is what it means to develop a "winning culture." This is why winning begets winning.
Now, we'll get to see if the Boston Phenomenon can carry over to the area's two other pro sports franchises: the Celtics and the Bruins. The Celtics certainly made a statement in this past off-season by picking up two talented stars, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and opened their season last night in rousing fashion. As for the Bruins, well, I can't even look at a NHL game or score until May, so I have no idea.
It will be interesting, albeit mildly nauseating, to see if this infectious trend continues. After all, as a long-standing Boston/New England and Bill Belichick hater, this whole situation is intriguing, but wholly unpleasant.
Oh, and heaven help us if Boston College wins the BCS Championship!
Go Buckeyes!!
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