Winning can tell lies

You could argue that the post-season is the most critical time window for the upcoming year. Coach and staff evaluations, injury management and treatment, recruit visits, and transfer acquisitions can dramatically alter the make-up and opportunities of next year's squad.

And while all of those components are critical for setting the foundation for a strong competitive season, there's another element that, without attention, can be the thorn in a potentially great team's side.

Too often we treat team culture like an artificial plant: buy it once, use it forever.

We implement the core values, and memorize the mission statements, and then post them on the wall thinking a simple glance a day will keep them alive. The truth is, team culture is more like a seed. It requires seasons of planting, watering, and pruning in order to reap the rewards.

This is why we see situations like the firing of Coach Hamilton at UVA. Following a Cinderella run to the sweet-16, UVA parted ways with their head coach citing, in essence "culture problems".

Winning doesn't tell the full story. Winning and poor culture can coexist. In fact, many teams win in spite of their organizational culture.

But this has a way of catching up to them. So, if you are in the post-season, it's a great time to evaluate your culture for weeds, thorns, or un-watered soil.

Here are some signs your team might be winning in spite of itself:
- Tension is tolerated because results are good
- Accountability is inconsistent
- Leadership is coach-dependent
- Transfer risk is high, even after a successful season
- Success feels like a pressure release, not a result of team alignment

Culture isn't just revealed when you lose. It can also be exposed by how you win.

If you're evaluating your program right now, don't just ask

"Are we winning?"

Ask: "What is it costing us to win this way"?