Cocktails with Carl
March Madness – What the NCAA Tournament can Teach us about Leading Teams
It happens every March-America gets basketball fever. Time to print your brackets, do your research and make your picks. Could this be the year you win the office pool?
Watching the games and following the results is always a ton of fun, but as leaders, there is also a lot we can learn from closely watching the players and their coaches. Winning something as competitively rigorous as the NCAA Tournament doesn’t happen by accident. It takes both long/ short term planning and meticulous preparation. It is the true test of a championship team.
Below are some of the qualities exemplified by great performing teams. As you watch the games and study the teams that are advancing, contemplate how these qualities might compare to your own team, then work on implementing the necessary changes for improvement.
Chemistry-What exactly is chemistry? It’s the right combination of ingredients that make up a great team. There is some flexibility on what might make up the specific ingredients (and it differs with every team), but they could include things like camaraderie, grit, talent, intelligence, confidence, etc. Each player brings their own special qualities. It’s the coach’s job to define the program culture and value system then recruit the right mix of players based on fit and need. I always use the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team as a great example. They won gold even though they weren’t the most talented team on the ice. Why? Because they had team chemistry that allowed them to overcome talent deficits with other intangible qualities needed to achieve victory. Does your team need to add or remove any particular ingredients to improve its chemistry?
Unselfishness-We can all identify a ball hog that is looking for the spotlight. The “superstar” is more interested in stuffing the stat sheet than winning. Here is a little bracket tip for the future….teams with players that have this mentality are usually bounced in the early rounds. Truth is, we have all worked with someone like this before. They have the unfortunate ability to permeate the team with their poor attitude, draining all the energy from others. As leaders, our job is to teach collaboration and teamwork, emphasizing that everyone has a critical role to play if we are going to win. Does your team need to be purged of a selfish superstar?
Winning Mindset-All the great teams and programs have an expectation for winning. It’s embedded into their culture. Duke, Kentucky, Gonzaga, and Villanova are some recent examples of programs that have this intimidating quality. These teams prey on those that are “afraid to lose”. So, is your team “just happy to be here” or is their desire to win great enough to fuel the work that needs to be done to achieve success? Is your team made up of people that love to compete and that challenge you and others to elevate your game? Have you incorporated language about healthy competition and winning into your core values and do you communicate it clearly to your current and potential team members?
Discipline-Basketball is a game of streaks and the inferior teams will crumble under the pressure of an untimely turnover, opponent scoring run, or thunderous dunk. Mentally weak coaches get caught up in the intensity and draw technical fouls. Individual players get goaded into doing something stupid. The momentum changes and the game slips away. Whoops. The very best teams don’t get rattled or succumb to tactics that are intended to throw them off their game. Disciplined teams have the ability to stay laser-focused on executing their plan. They do not ride the emotional roller coaster through the course of the game. Does your team have the mental toughness to stay focused on your plan even through the ups and downs of a particular season or opportunity?
There is a lot a leader can learn from watching the NCAA Tournament. As you follow the games, pay close attention to the above qualities and I’m confident that you will see a pattern emerge. The teams that continue to advance will exemplify these qualities while those that struggle will show weakness in at least one if not all four. As the tournament progresses, the room for error will get smaller and smaller until a champion is crowned. Perhaps this winning team will inspire you enough to evaluate your own team and make the necessary adjustments to get back on a path to consistent success..
Good Luck!
Cocktail Recipe: The Jump Shot
If your team has an early tip-off, skip the standard screwdriver for this creamsicle version.
3 ozs Orange Flavored Vodka (ex-Absolut Mandarin)
3 ozs Orange Juice
.75 ozs Amaretto
.75 ozs Cream
Orange Twist Garnish
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into an old-fashioned glass with ice. Garnish with the orange twist.