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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Ratgeber
- Serie: Jon Gordon
- Sprache: Englisch
From Jon Gordon, 17-time bestselling author, top leadership speaker, and the #1 consultant to elite CEOs, championship coaches, and high-performing teams in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, comes a powerful new fable on what it takes to build a truly great team.
What separates great teams from the rest? It's not just talent—it's commitment.
In The 7 Commitments of a Great Team, we follow the journey of Tim, a struggling leader facing declining business performance, low team morale, and self-doubt. While visiting his old college coach who is on his deathbed, Coach Richie reminds him of a lesson from years past: “Teammates are forever.”
This poignant moment triggers a powerful flashback to Tim's past, where his team defied all odds and achieved something remarkable. As Tim reflects on that experience, he realizes that the same 7 Commitments that led to success back then can be applied to his current team—and to any team striving to achieve extraordinary results together.
Through engaging storytelling, real-world lessons, and actionable insights, Jon Gordon reveals the seven commitments that great teams must make to build trust, foster connection, overcome adversity, and achieve extraordinary success.
- ✔ The 7 Commitments Every Team Needs – Proven principles to transform any team into a high-performing, united force.
- ✔ The Secret to Building Unshakable Trust – Simple, yet powerful team-building exercises that create deeper connections.
- ✔ Why Positivity Is a Competitive Advantage – Learn how optimism fuels resilience and success, even in tough times.
- ✔ The Best Way to Hold Your Team Accountable – Strike the perfect balance between accountability and encouragement.
- ✔ The Formula for Giving Your Best – A powerful equation that individuals and teams can use to maximize their potential.
- ✔ How to Turn Challenges and Change into Growth – Discover how the greatest teams use adversity and change to grow stronger.
- ✔ The Mindset Shift That Leads to Long-Term Success – Focus on the relationships that drive the process to build a lasting legacy.
Whether you're a business leader, coach, entrepreneur, or team member, this book will inspire you to commit, lead with purpose, and build a team that wins, thrives, and leaves a lasting impact.
A team that reads this book together and applies its lessons will become stronger together and achieve more together.
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Seitenzahl: 137
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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Table of Contents
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
Chapter 1: Teammates Are Forever
Chapter 2: Disconnected, Discouraged, Disappointing Results
Chapter 3: Commitments Are Greater Than Goals
Chapter 4: A Visit to Vino
Chapter 5: Commitment #1: Commit to the Vision and Mission of the Team
Chapter 6: Attack a New Opportunity
Chapter 7: Commitment #2: Commit to Staying Positive Together
Chapter 8: Commitment #3: Committo Giving Your Best
Chapter 9: The Roller Coaster
Chapter 10: Commitment #4: Committo Getting Better
Chapter 11: Love Tough
Chapter 12: Commitment #5: Commit to Connect
Chapter 13: The Safe Seat
Chapter 14: Team Beats Talent
Chapter 15: Commitment #6: Committo Each Other
Chapter 16: LOSS
Chapter 17: I Am…
Chapter 18: Stronger Together
Chapter 19: An Unexpected Fan
Chapter 20: Forever Teammates
Chapter 21: The 6 Commitments
Chapter 22: Commitment Recognizes Commitment
Chapter 23: The Funeral
Chapter 24: The Power Inside You
Chapter 25: The 7th Commitment
Chapter 26: Forever Impact
Book Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other Books by Jon Gordon
End User License Agreement
Guide
Cover
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
Begin Reading
Book Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other Books by Jon Gordon
End User License Agreement
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a leadership fable
The 7 Commitments of a Great Team
JON GORDON
Bestselling Author of The Energy Bus
Copyright © 2025 by Jon Gordon. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per‐copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750‐8400, fax (978) 750‐4470, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748‐6011, fax (201) 748‐6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permission.
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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data is Available:
ISBN 9781119757382 (cloth)
ISBN 9781119757399 (ePub)
ISBN 9781119757405 (ePDF)
Cover Design: Paul McCarthy
Cover Image: © Getty Images/Flavio Coelho
I dedicate this book to my coach Richie Moran and teammates.
Introduction
When people ask me how long it took to write this book I say “over fifty years” because I feel that I’ve been preparing to write it my entire life. I’ve been on a team since I was six years old and wore the number ½ on my football jersey. I have been on countless sports teams growing up in youth sports, in high school, and eventually in college. So many of my greatest memories are from my time being on a team. I love being part of a team, and I love helping teams become more united, positive, connected and committed. In fact, one of my greatest gifts and passions is to help leaders build stronger, more successful teams.
I know there are many talents and gifts I don’t possess, but when it comes to leadership and teams I see the patterns, challenges, issues, and solutions so clearly. Like a doctor, I’m able to see the symptoms and patterns of disease and prescribe the antidote. I’ve helped iconic companies who were merging together to become more connected in order for the merger to be successful. I’ve worked with countless corporate leadership teams, educational teams, healthcare teams, and college and pro sports teams. In fact, over the last 20 years I’ve probably worked with more business, sports, education, and healthcare teams combined than anyone on the planet.
This special book is a culmination of all the experiences, time, and insights I’ve gained working with teams. Much of this book was inspired by true stories, including my own. Coach Richie was inspired by my college coach, Richie Moran, who passed away a few years ago. He really did tell me, “Teammates are forever” before he passed away, and he really did change my life forever. In fact, after he told me “Teammates are forever,” I couldn’t get that idea out of my head and knew I would write a book about it one day.
So, while this is a fictional story, I believe it resonates deeply with readers because it is based on many actual events and stories that have inspired and touched me over the years. Like so many writers, I am inspired by the people I’ve met and impacted by the experiences I’ve had on my journey. This book is an expression of the best I’ve learned, experienced, taught, and felt.
I’m so thankful to all the leaders, teammates, and coaches I’ve had the opportunity to work with and learn from over the years. They have made my life so much more meaningful and rewarding and made this book possible. Without them there is no me, and there’s no 7 Commitments of a great team. I’m forever grateful, and I hope this book impacts you and your team!
If you are impacted by this book, please email me at [email protected] and let me know.
Chapter 1Teammates Are Forever
Tim sat beside Coach Richie's bed and held his hand. It was the same hand that he shook when he was offered a scholarship to play ball for him 30 years earlier. Coach Richie's grip was different then—strong, powerful, affirming. “Welcome to the team, kid,” he said with a big smile so bright that Tim knew this was the place and the coach that felt right. Tim told his mom that he was going to turn down all the other offers from other schools. This was where he wanted to go. He wanted to play for Coach Richie. Besides marrying his wife, this was the best decision of his life.
Tim cried as his old coach fell back to sleep. His sick, frail body was failing. His weak grip let Tim know Coach Richie was losing his grip on life. Tim grabbed the moist towel in the bowl on the nightstand of Coach's bedroom and wiped his dry mouth. He scanned his thin, pale face and wondered what you say to the man who gave you so much and changed the course of your life.
Coach Richie opened his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, “Thank you, Tim. I needed that. I feel like it's two minutes left in the game and I'm in desperate need of a water break.” He attempted to smile but his eyes lit up more than his mouth opened. “I'm not doing too well. I don't think I'm going to win this one,” he said.
“It's okay, Coach. You're fighting and that's what matters most. You're a fighter and a winner. You've always been a winner. That's what you always told me, and I get to tell you that now. Coach, you can't lose, because you've already won,” Tim told him.
Coach nodded as best as he could. “I'm just tired. But I'm doing my best.”
“I know you are,” said Tim. “You always did your best, and you taught me how to do my best. I love you, Coach. You changed my life. I want you to know that. I love you so much.”
Coach Richie's eyes lit up for a moment. “Remember, kid, teammates are forever. Teammates are forever,” he said before closing his eyes again.
“So are coaches who change your life,” said Tim as Coach fell back to sleep.
Tim leaned forward in his chair and sat in silence with his head between his knees for a while before he got up, walked out of the bedroom to the living room, and hugged Coach's wife, Patty.
“How long does he have left?” he asked.
“A month, tops,” she answered, with tears in her eyes.
“I'll keep checking on him, and on you,” said Tim.
“We appreciate it,” replied Patty. “He always loved you so much, and it means the world to him and to me that you came to visit.”
“It's the least I could do. He changed my life, and I'm forever in his debt. Please let me know if you need anything. I'm going to miss him so much.”
“I know, me too,” said Patty as she walked Tim to the door and gave him another hug goodbye.
Chapter 2Disconnected, Discouraged, Disappointing Results
As Tim drove to the airport, Coach's words “Teammates are forever” kept running through his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about them. Are teammates really forever? I mean, we're all going to die, so how can a teammate be forever? It's a nice saying, but is it true?
He thought about his college teammates and how he kept in touch with some of them. He thought about how they impacted his life. Yes, he would agree that teammates are for a lifetime, but forever is a really long time. Forever is infinite. Forever is eternity. He made a voice memo in his phone to continue to think more about this and then called his old teammate Brian H, whom everyone called H. They were freshman roommates and instant best friends for life. Tim thought about how wild it was to show up to college as strangers and the next day you're living with someone who snores and will be in your wedding.
H picked up on the first ring, and Tim brought him up to speed on Coach Richie's condition. They began sharing stories about him, as his teammates often did, and recalled their favorite one, which occurred before their five‐hour drive to Philadelphia for a game. The bus was about to depart when they realized that Jack, one of their best players and a senior, was not on it. Coach had several guys call him but Jack didn't answer. After about 30 minutes of waiting, Jack finally showed up to the bus wearing his sports jacket, tie, slacks, and dress shoes, and looking disheveled like he overslept.
Coach was livid but he calmly said, “Hey, big boy, what do you think you’re doing? You're not on your time anymore. You are on my time,” before making Jack walk off the bus and telling him to go run around the track four times before getting back on the bus. Jack asked if he should go get changed in the locker room before going to the adjacent field where the track was located. With an emphatic no, Coach told him to run in what he had on, including his dress shoes. Fifteen minutes later Jack returned to the bus with his shirt and pants drenched in sweat and his feet aching. Coach made him sit in his sweat for the entire bus ride, and no one was ever late again.
Perhaps it was Coach Richie's military background or his unconventional style or the fact that he was a little crazy in a good way, but he always found a way to make the team better. Tim and H recalled how he eventually got a bunch of self‐centered superstars who didn't really like or know each other to become a winning team.
When they hung up, Tim couldn't help but think of his own team at work. Was he helping them get better? No, he wasn't. They were going through the motions. Disengaged. Apathetic. Complacent. They were on a team but they weren't a real team. They were disconnected, discouraged, and delivering disappointing results. A colleague suggested that he give them a copy of The Energy Bus but unfortunately no one read it. He was at a loss of what to do. How do you get a team that is simply going through the motions to create momentum? How do you get people who are focused on their own careers to care about other team members? How do you get people excited about coming to work and focused on winning together?
Tim shook his head. He had no idea what to do but he had to find a solution quickly. Too many people were quitting, too few people were applying for jobs, and if he didn't turn things around, the company he had built from the bottom up would fall flat and fail. His competition was getting better. His business was getting worse. He had to do something. He just wasn't sure what to do.
