Like a perfect double play, high-performing AEC firms rely on preparation, trust, and flawless handoffs long before pressure arrives.
There’s a reason baseball people love the double play. It isn’t flashy. There’s no bat flip and rarely a celebration. Most of the time it barely makes the highlight reel. But when it’s executed perfectly, it’s one of the most satisfying plays in sports. Everything just works. The timing, the movement, the throw, the catch. And in many ways, it’s one of the best examples of teamwork you’ll ever see.
What most fans don’t notice is that the play actually starts long before the ball is hit. Before the pitch is even thrown, there’s already quiet communication happening across the infield. A glance from the pitcher. A subtle shift in positioning from the middle infielders. Everyone is processing the situation: the count, the runner on first, the hitter’s tendencies. By the time the pitch leaves the pitcher’s hand, everyone already knows what they’ll do if the ball is hit on the ground. That’s not luck. That’s preparation, trust, and accountability.
A clean double play doesn’t start when the shortstop fields the ball. It starts with clarity. The second baseman knows he’s covering the bag. The shortstop knows where the throw needs to go. The pitcher knows he needs to clear out and back up the play. Nobody is guessing, improvising, or trying to be the hero. The plan was agreed upon before the pitch was ever thrown.
Why teamwork drives performance in AEC firms
This is exactly how the best AEC firms operate. Winning the work, delivering the design, completing the project, and serving the client all depend on clearly defined roles and smooth handoffs between people. When those handoffs work, everything feels effortless. Zweig Group’s research supports this idea. Firms that land on the Hot Firm List often report organic growth approaching 20% annually, nearly double the industry average. That type of performance rarely comes from individual brilliance. It comes from teams that know how to execute together.
There’s another data point that reinforces this. In Zweig Group’s Best Firms To Work For program, roughly 80% of the score comes directly from anonymous employee surveys, representing millions of employee data points across the industry each year. The takeaway is remarkably consistent: firms with strong cultures are rarely built around individual stars. They’re built around teams that trust each other and understand how to work together.
Of course talent matters. Firms want smart people, strong technical expertise, and leaders who can win work and guide teams. But talent alone isn’t a winning strategy. The firms that consistently outperform their peers do something different. Their people operate as a coordinated unit. Business development flows naturally into project management. Designers respect project managers, project managers trust their technical staff, and leadership has confidence that the team can execute without constant intervention.
Why individual heroics are not a growth strategy
Too many organizations unintentionally celebrate individual heroics instead of team execution. The rainmaker who saves the quarter. The last-minute scramble that fixes a project. The heroic recovery when something almost went wrong. Those moments feel good, but they aren’t a system. A double play only works when everyone does exactly what they’re supposed to do. Miss the bag, rush the throw, or lose focus for even a moment and the runner is safe. Not because the play was impossible, but because the team stopped functioning as one.
Baseball teams don’t build chemistry during the game. They build it in practice through repetition. The same footwork, the same timing, the same communication, over and over again. Great design firms operate the same way. They refine their processes, communicate openly, and talk honestly about what worked and what didn’t. Accountability isn’t about control; it’s about reliability. When I give you the ball, I trust you to do your job, and you trust that I’ll do mine.
That kind of trust creates speed and confidence. It allows teams to operate under pressure without panic.
The beauty of the double play is that no single player can accomplish it alone. It requires timing, trust, and a shared commitment to the outcome. The same is true for firms that consistently outperform their peers. The best teams understand who they are and what they do well. They bring their best to the table and expect others to do the same. They don’t compete for credit inside the organization. They compete for wins outside the organization.
When teamwork is real, clients feel it. Projects run smoother. Problems get solved faster. Growth becomes more predictable. Culture becomes a competitive advantage.
What leaders should ask about team alignment
If you lead an AEC organization, the real question isn’t whether you have talented people. Most firms do. The real question is whether your team is aligned. Do your people understand their roles before the pitch is thrown? Do they know how work transitions from business development to project delivery to client management? Do they understand what success looks like when the pressure is on?
The best leaders focus on clarity. They build trust. They reinforce the fundamentals long before the game begins. When teams move as one, the work improves, the client experience improves, and growth becomes repeatable.
And when everything clicks, it’s not just effective. It’s beautiful.
The best teams deserve recognition
For more than 25 years, Zweig Group’s awards programs have celebrated the firms and individuals who are raising the bar across the AEC industry. From Best Firms To Work For and Hot Firm to the Marketing Excellence Award and Rising Stars, these programs highlight the organizations building strong cultures, achieving exceptional growth, and shaping the future of the profession. If your firm is executing at a high level, consider entering the 2026 Zweig Group awards program and join the growing list of industry leaders recognized for their impact.
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Chad Coldiron is a principal and director of client relations and development at Zweig Group. Contact him at ccoldiron@zweiggroup.com. |
