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The 2-time defending World Cup champion US Women's National Team has just completed pool play down in the New Zealand in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. By historial standards for this team, they have performed poorly so far. However, have they been unsuccessful?
14 of the 23 players are competing in the World Cup for the first time. Many are playing in positions they don't usually play because of injuries or need (Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz playing defense, for example). The side that has been put out haven't even played a match together before this tournament.
The most talented, but are they the best team, or successful?
It's reasonable to state that the USWNT is the most talented group in the tournament, likely deserving their number 1 ranking. But, as a team, they are not connecting and are not reacting to the stress of the matches.
I am on the outside. I am not even deeply knowledgeable about the intricacies of high-level soccer (football). I am skilled in basketball, coaching and leadership. Many basketball spacing, defensive and movement concepts are similar to football.
It is easily apparent, however, that the team is showing flaws in many areas that are new to them.
- Passing, especially in the midfield, is not crisp.
- Players are making decisions to press forward without support of teammates, leaving large gaps for opponents to control possession and overall play.
- The lack of experience as a unit, as well as individually, keeps the team from leaning on an identity.
Opponents have studied the US side extensively over the years as they've looked to become successful and have uncovered ways to exploit gaps.
So, I've outlined where the USWNT are not performing well. However, again, has the team been unsuccessful so far?
Success through the fundamental force of Service
One of the Four Fundamental Forces of Leadership is Service. The purpose of Service is to strive towards success within the John Wooden definition of success:
"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."
Service encompasses doing what's needed to help yourself, the team and the organization become successful. Service includes accountability. There is Love that is put forward on the journey. Those looking to Serve take different looks at situations and Respect ways to Serve. Lastly, they have Fun and express Joy in the process even more than the outcome.
With this concept of Service in mind, my answer to the success question posed is a big "I don't know".
The players and coaching staff likely believe they can become better. They see a lot more than I in terms of what is possible. However, are there realities in the way the coaching staff and players have prepared themselves that will make it difficult to realize what will, in time, become the best version of themselves. They may be the best they can become at THIS stage of their journey. As this group grows and develops together, they will become better and will figure out how to be the best they are capable of becoming. That may not happen by the end of the World Cup.
Connecting the USWNT with your leadership
As a leader, it is critical for you to understand not only what success looks like in the future, but what success might look like at various stages of development and under various degress of stress. The scoreboard IS NOT the determiner of success.
You need to understand how you can help yourself and others on the team to build the fire within you to practice the Four Fundamental Forces of Leadership in ways that catapult you and others to new levels of capability. Those capabilities will grow and solidify over time and through various stressors. Ultimate success will not happen immediately. What success looks like at one point won't be success at a later date; it evolves.
Through failures (like the USWNT is facing now) you can uncover pathways to build new ways of thinking and doing. You will see what might not work under the circumstances and change course...or the circumstances.
The USWNT is getting the results they are getting because they are more talented and have been able to recover from where they aren't performing as they would like. You continuously need to look at the teams you lead to determine how you can Servce them to become all they can become.