Welcome back to Mental Toughness Monday, the podcast that turns good coaches into great ones. We’ve navigated through the Forming and Storming stages of team dynamics. Today, we’re diving into ‘Norming,’ the phase where teams find their groove. So, let’s get into it!

Imagine a machine with every part working in perfect harmony. That’s your team in the norming stage. It’s like when you finally figure out how to assemble that complicated piece of IKEA furniture. Suddenly, all the pieces fit! Sometimes that’s a small miracle when putting together something from IKEA.

Take the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, for example. Talk about a Cinderella story! These guys were like oil and water at first – full of regional rivalries and ego clashes. But by the time the Olympics rolled around, they had transformed into a unified force.

The Miracle on Ice wasn’t just a win; it was a masterpiece of teamwork. These guys weren’t just playing hockey; they were performing a symphony on ice. Each player knew their role, trusted each other, and played for the team, not just the name on the back of their jersey.

In norming, it’s all about trust and appreciation. It’s like a band where the drummer doesn’t try to play the guitar. Everyone knows their part, and they play it to perfection.

But let’s be real, getting to this stage isn’t a walk in the park. It’s more like a hike up a mountain. You’ll have your stumbles, maybe a few disagreements about which path to take, but once you reach the summit, sometimes the views are amazing.

And that’s the beauty of norming. It’s about finding that sweet spot where everyone is in sync. You’re not just a group of individuals anymore; you’re a team.

So, coaches, remember, norming is the calm after the storm. It’s where your team starts to click, where the magic happens. Keep encouraging that teamwork, and soon you’ll be watching your own ‘Miracle on the Field’.

Next episode, we’ll tackle the ‘Performing’ stage – where all your hard work pays off. Stay tuned, and remember, great teams aren’t born; they’re built, one practice, one game, one stage, and one year at a time.

Thanks for tuning into Mental Toughness Monday. Don’t forget to share this with your other coaches. See you next time, where we turn good teams into legends!

– Riley Jensen