Championship Leadership: The Overlooked Value of Transferable Experience (Part 2)

"They kept saying we weren't battle-tested. What, did the last two years mean nothing?" - Derrick White, Boston Celtics

In the wake of the Celtics' recent NBA Championship victory, Derrick White's words resonate beyond the basketball court. Critics questioned the Celtics' readiness for the NBA Finals, focusing narrowly on their perceived "easier" path this year. However, they overlooked a crucial factor: the team's wealth of accumulated experience.

The core of this Celtics team had been battle-tested in the trenches of high-stakes playoff basketball against other opponents in previous seasons. They had fought to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals the year before and tasted defeat in the NBA Finals the year before that. Moreover, key players like Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown had consistently reached deep into the playoffs throughout their careers. This extensive experience, though not immediately recent, proved invaluable in their championship run.

This scenario mirrors a common oversight in the business world: the undervaluation of transferable experience in hiring practices. Many employers, much like the Celtics' critics, focus solely on recent, directly applicable experience, often to their detriment.

I recently encountered this mindset when discussing a CMO opening with a restaurant chain. Despite a positive initial exchange, I was informed that the hiring committee had decided to consider only "current CMOs within the restaurant industry." This narrow focus raises several concerns:

1. How can a company outperform competitors if they only hire from within the same industry?
2. What does this say about the effectiveness of their hiring process if they can only consider candidates who have already done the exact job?
3. How appealing is the role to candidates who are already in similar positions elsewhere?

In my experience, taking a chance on candidates with the right attitude and transferable skills has rarely disappointed. I've successfully brought people across functions, industries, and into first-time management roles. While this approach may require additional support initially, the risk is low compared to the potential rewards. The specific experience needed often exists within the organization and can be learned, whereas the fresh perspectives and motivation these hires bring are invaluable.

Many critics favored Dallas over the Celtics in the finals, focusing on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving's recent performances. However, the Celtics' cumulative experience allowed them to employ strategies that Dallas hadn't faced in these playoffs, leading to a decisive 4-1 victory in the best-of-7 Championship series.

In leadership, as in basketball, it's crucial to look beyond the immediate past and recognize the value of diverse, transferable experiences. The next time you're making a hiring decision, consider the battles your candidates have fought, even if they're in different arenas. You might just find your championship-caliber talent where others aren't looking.

If you enjoyed this, check out my previous article in this series - Championship Leadership: Lessons from Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics (Part 1)