Steve Ballmer

Our fans don't. But the level of accountability is so high. The speed is high. Think of teamwork. Teamwork, man. It's all on display. Not only is it on display, but you absolutely know you need teamwork. One star can't bail you out. You may have one star, but then the pieces have to fit around the star. It's just kind of the way it is.

You can't, you know how businesses, you say, okay, everybody wants to talk about teamwork. And in a lot of places that would mean, hey, Ben, you know, I don't know, we could work better on this. And then Ben can say, your team's doing things wrong. And then we can get back together and talk a little more. And then a month later, we can talk about it some more. Yeah.

You can't, you know how businesses, you say, okay, everybody wants to talk about teamwork. And in a lot of places that would mean, hey, Ben, you know, I don't know, we could work better on this. And then Ben can say, your team's doing things wrong. And then we can get back together and talk a little more. And then a month later, we can talk about it some more. Yeah.

Probably you've seen this in some organizations. And then at some point we'll talk about it as if it were a great collaboration. Right. Between our two teams. And you know what has to happen in our business? Every minute.

Probably you've seen this in some organizations. And then at some point we'll talk about it as if it were a great collaboration. Right. Between our two teams. And you know what has to happen in our business? Every minute.

You have to actually say it, pass the ball. Yeah. Or, you know, hey, this isn't working. You got to do X. You got to give real-time feedback. You can't lollygag or, ah, well, you know, let's rub each other's belly. No, if you want that team to be better, you have to hold one another accountable, not just the coach. The best teams, the players hold each other accountable.

You have to actually say it, pass the ball. Yeah. Or, you know, hey, this isn't working. You got to do X. You got to give real-time feedback. You can't lollygag or, ah, well, you know, let's rub each other's belly. No, if you want that team to be better, you have to hold one another accountable, not just the coach. The best teams, the players hold each other accountable.

And not just the best player holds everybody else accountable, but... The guys who are not stars have to be able to hold, everybody's got to hold everybody accountable, which means, really means, give the feedback. In Microsoft, we got rid of the value called teamwork. I didn't want that one. I said open and respectful and dedicated to making others better.

And not just the best player holds everybody else accountable, but... The guys who are not stars have to be able to hold, everybody's got to hold everybody accountable, which means, really means, give the feedback. In Microsoft, we got rid of the value called teamwork. I didn't want that one. I said open and respectful and dedicated to making others better.

Because teamwork could sound like a treat everybody, nice, nice, open, yes. Got to say what's on your mind. Respectful, yes. But number one, dedicated to making each other better, which I think is what the purpose of teamwork is, as opposed to the word teamwork.

Because teamwork could sound like a treat everybody, nice, nice, open, yes. Got to say what's on your mind. Respectful, yes. But number one, dedicated to making each other better, which I think is what the purpose of teamwork is, as opposed to the word teamwork.

Exactly. And, and, you know, I think back to the old HP team, you know, I'm okay. You're okay. Let's all be nice to each other. And, you know, there's a little bit of that. That's kind of come back into the general narrative of culture today. And, you know, generations, not much younger than me, but at the end of the day, if you want to succeed, you're right. The goal is succeeding. Yeah.

Exactly. And, and, you know, I think back to the old HP team, you know, I'm okay. You're okay. Let's all be nice to each other. And, you know, there's a little bit of that. That's kind of come back into the general narrative of culture today. And, you know, generations, not much younger than me, but at the end of the day, if you want to succeed, you're right. The goal is succeeding. Yeah.

And getting people to play well together. And in an NBA team, you're going to know, right? In two and a half hours or so, two hours, you're going to know.

And getting people to play well together. And in an NBA team, you're going to know, right? In two and a half hours or so, two hours, you're going to know.

Extreme accountability, extreme teamwork. I learned some things that would have been very helpful. For me to understand at Microsoft. I'll give you another one. Reference checking. Everybody does reference checking, right? How good is the reference checking in most businesses?

Extreme accountability, extreme teamwork. I learned some things that would have been very helpful. For me to understand at Microsoft. I'll give you another one. Reference checking. Everybody does reference checking, right? How good is the reference checking in most businesses?

Or you call somebody who probably doesn't feel like they can give you an honest answer because they don't want to get sued or blah, blah, blah. Basketball? You should see the amount of reference material we have on a guy before we draft him. I mean, people have talked to their old coaches. They've talked to their teammates. Right. And it's not just – I mean, that's the kind of scouts do.

Or you call somebody who probably doesn't feel like they can give you an honest answer because they don't want to get sued or blah, blah, blah. Basketball? You should see the amount of reference material we have on a guy before we draft him. I mean, people have talked to their old coaches. They've talked to their teammates. Right. And it's not just – I mean, that's the kind of scouts do.

They've watched them play. They've been to practices. They kind of know what they've – Talk to references about work ethic.