3. The Eagle Group’s Sources of
Success
Why do some groups produce extraordinary
results while others produce little or nothing?
Play, spirit and culture are at the core of peak
performance
4. Sources of cultural success I
How someone becomes a group member is
important
Diversity provides a team’s competitive
advantage
Examples, not command, holds a team
together
A specialized language fosters cohesion and
commitment
5. Sources of cultural success (II)
Stories carry history and values and reinforce
group identity
Humor and play reduce tension and
encourage creativity
Ritual and ceremony lift spirits and reinforce
values
6. Sources of cultural success (III)
Informal cultural players make contributions
disproportionate to their formal roles
Soul is the secret of success
7. Conclusion
Symbolic perspectives questions traditional
views on team building
Right structure and people are important, but
not sufficient
The essence of high performance is spirit
Banishing play, ceremony and myth would
destroy teamwork, not create it
Team building at its heart is a spiritual
undertaking: peak performance emerges as a
team discovers its soul