Deadly Sins that Destroy Teams*

*Adapted from my basketball blog. All opinions expressed are solely mine.  

John Harbaugh says every team fights 4 silent forces - every single day.

He and his brother named them years ago.

You won't always see them. But they shape your culture and define your team.

Here are the 4 hidden threats every organization faces:🧵 pic.twitter.com/TFATzwrHXh

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) May 31, 2025

Follow the Harbaugh brothers thread to their four "silent forces" that compromise teams:

1) Division within (blame, complaints, excuses, etc.)

2) Noise (from media and others)

3) Fatigue (how do we measure that?)

4) Complacency ("the wind blows hardest at the top of the mountain."

Strong leadership from your coaching staff helps regulate these issues. 

Everyone has their own version of "deadly sins." I offer these:

1) Selfishness. Selfishness puts our individual wants, needs, and desires above those of the team. It's the first of the deadly S's - selfishness, softness, and sloth. Preach team as the primary core value. A Middlesex League team fractured years ago when a player "stole" another player's boyfriend. The split knocked a strong team out of the playoffs. Team first. 

2) Envy. Like selfishness, envy can become contagious. Players, families, and entourages can envy teammates with more minutes, bigger roles, and recognition. Ego is the enemy. Madeleine Blais' excellent "In These Girls Hope Is a Muscle" addresses this brilliantly. 

3) Distraction. Success demands focus. The "noise" listed above counts as distraction and other issues (e.g. problems with significant others) can likewise pose problems. 

4) Partying. Player alcohol and substance use keep coaches awake at night. "There's nothing to do in this town." Coaches only have so much control of immature and self-destructive behavior. Strong leadership within the team can help. "This is who we are. That is who we are not." Coach Saban says players need to understand what must be done and what must not...and then do it or keep themselves from it. 

Lagniappe. Few actions inspire us more than hearing others express confidence in us. 

People don’t always need lectures & speeches, sometimes they just need someone in their corner that says:
“I believe in you”
POWERFUL. I challenge you to do it today! 🗣️@BallisPsych pic.twitter.com/Nyv7lXFGIL

— Hayley Hollis (@MsHayHollis) June 14, 2025