The Golden Misfits

Our sons were discussing their “Dream 5,” the team they’d put together if they could draw from basketball players across all teams. As they volleyed names around, they realized that their initial inclination to have a team of superstars would not work. There would be holes in the game strategy. The play style wouldn’t gel. It reminded me of the 2017 inaugural Las Vegas Golden Knights hockey team, which crafted its roster by taking players that were not stars on other teams. When the roster first came out, the reactions predominantly were “meh.” But this team surprised people. 

The Knights won 8 of their 9 nine games. They set a record of 6 straight wins, then 8 straight wins, then most points by an expansion team in its inaugural season and they were the first expansion team (in 4 major sports) to win its division in the first season. They even made it to the

Stanley Cup Finals, earning the nickname the “Golden Misfits” due to their success with a collection of underdogs.

So, what made this team work? One theory is based on the benefit of making multiple, interconnected choices together vs. piecemeal. By grouping choices you can consider needs as a whole, how elements fit together, and how the ecosystem of the choices interplays. 

While your organization may not build a team from scratch, there are many other areas where grouping choices can be helpful, such as planning a year’s worth of fundraising, organizing the process for hosting a lifecycle event, or mapping a family’s journey through your program. 

Where could grouping choices be beneficial for your organization?