Here are ten guidelines for team training to set the stage for success:

I recommend you get serious about team training. When I was in the SEALs, the units that took training more seriously than others far outperformed. Team training should not be seen as a random occurrence or a nuisance by the leadership.

Here are ten guidelines for team training to set the stage for success: 

• Participation should be mandatory—sharing risk and experience is a key factor in a team's development. 
  
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• Check egos at the door—participation, teamwork, and best effort far outweigh impressive performance in a training event. If it is a physical challenge, ensure you have methods for scaling things for those less physically capable. The point is to provide a vehicle for growth, not to hurt or embarrass anyone. 
  
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• Someone must lead. The leader should plan the session, brief it, debrief it…and participate. 
  
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• Change leadership roles often during training to give others a chance to experience the role and share the wealth and responsibility.
  
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• Insist on accuracy before intensity—make sure proper form is followed before intensity or weight loads are ramped up (for physical training). When consistent accuracy is evidenced in action, then it is OK to dial it up. A note on accuracy: this applies to counting repetitions and full range of motion. Nothing will destroy trust quicker than a teammate cheating on rep count or shortcutting range of motion on a movement. No one wants to watch a teammate do half the work in half the time and then take credit for coming in first!
  
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• Engage experts to take the team to a higher level: hire a coach or subject matter expert to come spend some time with the team. 
  
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• Have everyone participate in the planning, organization, setup,
  
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• Safety trumps hard—develop an awareness of risk factors, plan to mitigate the risk, and ensure that safety of the team is more important than pounding your way onto the bench. 
  
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• Have fun! Training should be super-fun and rewarding. If it is not, then take a hard look at why. Are there other tools and tactics to train a tough team to drive toward team mastery, where the teammates serve each other, don't quit, and achieve victory time after time? Let's find out.
  

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