A network model for understanding interactions between and among team members.

While researching for another project I came across the above model as presented by Neal & Neal (2013)and found it to be perhaps the most succinct model for understanding the ecosystem of team communication and influence. In particular, if you place the coach (or other leader) at the “A” position you start to see how he/she serves (or doesn’t serve) as a cultural reference point for the entire system.

Viewed through this lens, the stereotypically elevated role of the sport coach (especially in sports such as American football) and the communication patterns usually associated with such people (watch any sports movie), can be understood as his/her ability to develop and maintain systemic networks of influence. The same can be said for coaches who “lose the locker room” as evidence of those coaches who either fail to develop or fail to sustain these same systemic networks.

Having witnessed first hand both robust and dysfunctional team cultures, I am able to see clearly the role that systemic networks played in determining cultural development. Think about your own team, who has the loudest voice? Who has the most influence? Now place him/her in the “A” position and chart out the systemic network that he/she is part of. Who does he/she directly influence? Who is influenced by his/her influence?

“Silencing” a negative voice is a common strategy among coaches who deem a particular players as being a bad influence on team culture. This negative influence is often shunned or removed from the team. However, through this model one can see that even removing such a player is not enough to remove his/her influence. The same can be said for a negative coaching presence within an athletic department—simply removing an individual doesn’t necessarily mean that his/her systemic influence has been removed. Instead, removing such a player (or coach) could actually amplify his/her negative influence as he/she can operate within his/her network with impunity, thus undermining team culture from afar.

What if instead of removing such a player, he/she was brought closer? What is coaches were able to personally connect with such a player (or a player connecting to a coach) to better understand his/her perspective? What is emotional intelligence and compassion were the tools utilized to restore positivity to his/her messaging? What positive impact could he/she have on the culture of your team?

What is your network like? How do you cultivate a positive network of communication and interaction?.

References

Neal, J. W., & Neal, Z. P. (2013). Nested or Networked? Future Directions for Ecological Systems Theory: Nested or Networked? Social Development, n/a-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12018