It's Both Talent and Chemistry


Teams clearly need talent to excel. As new Red Sox left fielder Johny Gomes illustrated in an interview today, however, they need something else - chemistry. Gomes has been described as a "great clubhouse guy," which can be a euphemism for not being very talented. There's no question, however, that he's a guy with character, integrity, humility, humor - and, yes, talent. As Sox fans who remember the bad old days of "25 guys and 25 cabs" know well, hubris and a sense of entitlement create terrible chemistry that cripples organizations. The leader's essential task, through relentless communication and modeled behavior, is to insist that talented individuals find the humility to stay focused on being part of a high-performing team. In today's competitive environment, teams of any kind need talent, chemistry and the leadership that stitches them together. Twitter @jessicamcwade