Culture is a major aspect of nearly everything we as humans do in life on a daily basis. It’s the characteristics and knowledge of a specific group of people in society. Culture is their beliefs, it’s a way thinking, acting and behaving that is distilled in the group, organization, business or place where you spend your time. It’s an extremely important part of daily life because it shapes who we are as people, can help up be more productive, build better relationships and overall live a more enjoyable life.
A good example of this can be made in a comparison between two National Basketball teams. The other night I was discussing with one of my roommates the exceptional culture that has existed in the San Antonio Spurs ever since Greg Popovich has been the head coach. For the last 20 years, the Spurs have been a dominating force in the NBA. Since he took over in 1996, the team has thrived. They’ve won the NBA championship five times, and have been in the playoffs nearly every year. One thing that Popovich is keen on when he determines if the player is a good fit for a team in their character. He won’t invest in an egotistical player who demands a massive paycheck. He prefers to go for a player that has a positive attitude, strong work ethic and is committed to the team, not themselves. He also encourages team dinners after every game, and is not afraid to get in a players face and tell him how he feels. Though it runs deeper than this, the Spurs as an organization are committed to not only winning, but building a healthy and positive basketball team that is successful both on and off the court.
The Cleveland Cavaliers however are a different story. Much like the local football team, the Cleveland Browns, the Cavaliers have endured years of disappointment in sports, and have failed to bring home a championship. The culture at the Cavaliers is a reflection of their repeated failed attempts to bring home a championship. Despite having some of the most talented basketball players in the world, many of them are more focused on their ego rather than the success of their team. Players have been known to drop subtle hints that they would rather be playing somewhere else, and rather than confronting the issues, they try to disguise them. Inside and outside of the locker room there is tension among the players and coaches, mostly due to the high standards and expectations of a championship. This was evident when the Cavaliers fired head coach David Blatt halfway through, what many would call, a very successful season. Rather than trying to recruit talented players with strong character, the Cavaliers pursue talented players with an inflated self-image who put themselves before the team. Though they have been successful in recent year and have a high win percentage, the fact remains that they still have not been able to capture a championship. They have made the playoffs 7 times in the last 11 years. The 4 years they were absent from the playoffs were the years when LeBron James was in Miami. In those 7 appearances, they have made it to the finals twice, losing both times.
Though both teams are very successful, one of the main differences, in my opinion, is the culture. The culture that is instilled within the Spurs sets each individual player up for success. Though they are talented, the Cavaliers are divided under the pressure, rather than united like the Spurs. In the long run, this can have in impact on whether such a talented team becomes world champions that are remembered forever, or the runner up who nobody remembers.
Putting it all together: If you had the choice, who would you rather work for, or spend your time associating with? Who and what you associate with is a big factor in determining how successful you can be in your life. Choosing a culture that sets you in line with your goals, and also goals of a team are important. It can be the determining factor in whether you are great, or simply mediocre. This can apply to everything in life. If you put your hard work and effort into a place where the culture is not on the level of your effort, then you are wasting your time. Invest in yourself by choosing the option with the best culture, and you will only thank yourself later.
