Achieving Better Results Together
Steve Maloney

Recently, I wrote an article for the May edition of MACNY’s Manufacturing Matters newsletter with this same title, highlighting our Crucial Teams program. I mentioned that Randy Wolken, MACNY’s President & CEO, has spoken about the incredible opportunity our community has for advanced manufacturing growth. Strong leadership and exceptional teamwork will be essential to seizing this opportunity.

At its core, Crucial Teams focuses on the moments that define team success: high-stakes interactions where differing perspectives, competing priorities, and tight timelines converge. These are the “crucial” moments where misalignment can derail progress — or, when managed effectively, drive innovation, collaboration, and results. This is exactly the opportunity in front of all of us right now. Businesses will need to find ways to meet increasing demand, and outstanding teamwork will be critical to getting the job done.

Teamwork has been on my mind a lot lately. I’ve been back at MACNY for a year now, and I truly love being part of such a wonderful team. I have reflected on how we accomplish so much work across so many different areas and consistently deliver major events with what appears to be relative ease. Of course, there are challenges, but the team genuinely connects and works together to make things happen.

One question I really like is: “Are we getting results while also feeling good about our relationships?” For the MACNY team, I know the answer is yes. I hope the same is true for you and your team members.

The other reason I’ve been reflecting on teamwork is the rise of the New York Knicks! I’ve always been a big fan of basketball and the NBA, and have followed the Knicks closely since 1999 — especially after Carmelo Anthony joined the team. Many people have said they cannot win with a small point guard like Jalen Brunson as their superstar. However, the Knicks are proving what can happen when a team truly plays together. It’s great to have star talent, but their success comes from collective effort. It seems like a different player steps up every game to help the team win.

Josh Hart has become a key contributor to the Knicks’ success, and he has shared several powerful thoughts on teamwork. One quote that stood out to me was: “I don’t have an ego, that got burned out of my heart a long time ago.”

Here are a few additional lessons that stand out:

• Sacrifice – Hart has talked about how having a roster full of players willing to sacrifice personal accolades for the betterment of the group is exactly what positions a team for success.
• Servant Leadership – He views his role as a gift to serve his teammates and help put them in the best possible position to succeed. By the way, we have a course on Servant Leadership, so contact me if you’d like more information!
• Winning Over Minutes – Even as a fierce competitor who wants to be on the court, he is fully at peace sitting on the bench during crucial moments if it helps the team secure a win.
• Role Acceptance – He embraces doing the “dirty work” — playing hard, rebounding, defending, and bringing positive energy — regardless of whether he is starting, coming off the bench, or not playing at all.

It’s clear the Knicks have built a selfless team culture, and having three starters from Villanova championship teams certainly contributes to their chemistry. That kind of connection and trust is difficult to match. It will be interesting to see whether they can win the NBA Finals and become champions for the first time since 1973 — the year I was born! I believe their teamwork advantage could have a major impact on the outcome.

In my next blog post, I’ll discuss one of the key elements of the Crucial Teams program: developing a generous view of your teammates.