FORWARD THINKING
Question
How should we actually think about the people we work with?
My Perspective
Let’s retire two phrases from the workplace:
“We’re a family here.”
“Our human resources.”
Neither one gets it right.
I’ve worked in both worlds—small, tight-knit teams where people throw around “we’re a family,” and big orgs where you’re logged and labeled like you’re part of inventory. And every time I hear either phrase, something in me winces.
Because both miss the mark in opposite directions.
Too often, companies use these phrases as shortcuts to identity. Small businesses reach for “family” to signal loyalty and care. Big corporations lean on “resources” to stay efficient and scalable. But neither is actually how high-functioning groups work.
Here’s my take:
A sports team is the right way to think about your people.
It’s not just a metaphor—it’s a model.
It has structure, expectations, support, accountability, and, yes, camaraderie. You’re not showing up because of bloodline or budget line—you’re showing up because you have a role to play the team needs, and as part of a team you should be able to accomplish so much more.
Let’s break it down and look at some various examples of the three models:
How you get in:
In a family, you’re born or adopted into it.
On a team, you’re drafted, recruited, or earn your spot.
As a resource, you’re allocated.
How you stay:
In a family, you stay no matter what—even if you’re holding everyone back or they are treating you poorly.
On a team, you stay because you contribute and grow.
As a resource, you stay as long as your output remains efficient.
How people treat you:
In a family, you’re treated with unconditional love (at least you should be).
On a team, you’re treated with earned respect and clear expectations.
As a resource, you’re a unit of productivity to be managed.
What happens when you struggle:
In a family, people cover for you—even if it hurts the group.
On a team, you get coached and supported—but accountability stays.
As a resource, you’re optimized or off boarded without much thought to anything but numbers.
The goal:
A family is about unconditional belonging.
A team is about shared success.
A resource is about maximum output.
Here’s the truth: Let’s stop pretending work is Thanksgiving dinner. Let’s stop pretending it’s an assembly line. Co-Workers aren’t relatives, and they aren’t replaceable cogs.
They’re teammates.
The best sports teams get this right:
They choose talent and character.
They build chemistry.
They create cultures where people want to give their best for each other—not because of guilt or fear, but because of shared purpose, because they want to win, together.
You don’t have to be best friends with everyone to be a great teammate. But you do have to show up, perform your role, and do it well. There can and should be camaraderie—often, friendships will form. But that’s not the goal.
The goal is to accomplish something together. To win. To thrive. Let’s stop pretending we’ll keep people forever, no matter what. Let’s also stop pretending people are just numbers on a page.
The truth, like most things, lives in the grey.
A great team isn’t built on loyalty or efficiency alone. It’s built on great, talented people moving toward the same goal.
And the only way we win? Together.