What Volleyball Taught Me About Teams

I have a confession:

I'm relatively new to volleyball.

I didn't grow up playing the sport. I don't coach. I'm not the one drawing up lineups, teaching techniques, or running practices. My husband handles that side of things.

As we've worked together to build Nebraska Power Volleyball Club, I've spent hours in gyms, practices, clinics, and tournaments. While I'm not coaching athletes, I've had a front-row seat to watch coaches build teams.

And what I've discovered is that many of the lessons that create successful volleyball teams are the same lessons that create successful organizations.

Talent Isn't Enough

Every team has talented players.

Every organization has talented people.

Yet talent alone rarely determines success.

I've watched teams with impressive athletes struggle because they weren't working together. I've also watched teams outperform expectations because they communicated well, trusted each other, and played as a unit.

The same thing happens in business.

Organizations don't fail because they lack smart people.

They struggle when smart people aren't aligned.

Communication Matters More Than Most People Think

One thing that stands out in volleyball is the constant communication.

Players are always talking.

Calling the ball. Providing support. Helping teammates adjust.

The communication isn't complicated, but it's continuous.

The same is true for high-performing organizations.

When information flows quickly, teams adapt quickly.

When communication breaks down, even talented teams struggle.

Great Coaches Build Confidence

One of the things I've enjoyed most is watching coaches develop athletes.

The best coaches aren't just teaching skills.

They're building confidence.

They're helping players learn from mistakes, trust themselves, and continue improving.

Great leaders do the same thing.

The strongest teams aren't built by leaders who have all the answers.

They're built by leaders who help others perform at their best.

Everyone Contributes to the Outcome

Volleyball is a team sport in every sense of the word. Success requires every player doing their part. No single athlete can carry an entire team for long.

Business works the same way.

Projects succeed when people understand how their contributions connect to a larger goal. The highest-performing organizations create environments where individuals understand both their role and the impact they have on the team's success.

The Lesson

Building a volleyball club has taught me that great teams don't happen by accident.

• They require communication.

• Trust.

• Accountability.

• Leadership.

• And a shared commitment to something bigger than any one individual.

Whether it's a volleyball team competing on the court or an organization delivering results for customers, the fundamentals remain remarkably similar.

People perform best when they trust each other, communicate openly, and understand the role they play in achieving a common goal.

That's a lesson worth remembering—in sports, in business, and in leadership.

What lessons about teamwork have you learned from activities outside of work?