WHAT CAN THE ROYAL MARINES TEACH US ABOUT BUILDING A HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAM?

Benchmarking the Best is always good practice. When it comes to high performance teams, we don’t need to look far beyond the British Commandos. In fact, it was for this very reason that the England Rugby Team sought help from the Corps ahead of their World Cup winning campaign in 2003.

So what are key elements of Royal Marines teamwork? What can project teams take away from the elite in order to gain a competitive advantage at the front line?

1. It is a “state of mind”: From the outset, the Royal Marines are looking for attitude rather than aptitude. It is the former that will get you through the tough times, together. We have a quote on the wall here; “tough times don’t last, tough people do…”.

2. Serving something bigger than each individual: The project identity, legacy, traditions need to unify all team members such that no one man ever becomes bigger than the team or the mission.

3. Core values: The Royal Marines values are excellence, integrity, self-discipline and humility. Simple explanations are attached to each so that all marines know how to apply these values to daily tasks. The values are tangible.

4. Commando spirit: Courage, determination, unselfishness, cheerfulness; spirit is the x-factor, the ethos, it is the non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character – the soul. Marines aspire to embody these characteristics.

5. Personal and professional development: Royal Marines do not sit still. They are always trying to improve themselves, learn new skills, achieve the next level of capability and influence in order to be a better asset to the team. Each marine and team is trying to be the best they can be.

In summary, the Royal Marines can teach us a huge amount about world class teamwork: Fundamental to their high performance is a positive mind set, willingly serving the cause, tangible values, commando characteristics, and a tireless pursuit of personal and professional growth.

I was privileged to be part of this extraordinary organisation for 8 years. It was an honour to serve and what I learned about high performance teams has been invaluable ever since…