Sports & Business: How Competing Makes You Better

I love sports.

Anyone who knows me, knows that athletics and competition are such an integral part of my life. I’ve loved playing, coaching, and watching sports since I was a kid. And it doesn’t matter what type of competition it is, I can watch a round of golf, as easily as track and field, or probably my biggest passion, basketball.

Basketball has taught me so much that I’ve been able to apply to business. It’s always amazing to me that the life lessons I learned on the hardwood translate so well to the boardroom. ?I want to share them with you.

Hard work is rewarded.

In athletics, just like business, you’ll be exposed if you’re not putting in the work. There’s always a competitor –opponent, teammate who shares the same position, business rival – that’s hungrier and wants what you have. You must be willing to go above and beyond to WIN.

Have confidence in your team.

There’s a difference between being OVER confident and having confidence. The great coaches I’ve had in my life instilled confidence in their players. As a Senior at Hillsdale College?and captain of the varsity basketball team, my coach did not micromanage. He trusted the other captain and I to have the pulse of the team, and to be able to communicate team needs. There is power in delegation and trust.

Let people run with their ideas, let them run their business and accomplish the teams’ goals their way. I’m always trying to learn the best way to empower my leaders to do the great things I know they can achieve. Your people have great ideas. I’ve found often they will exceed your expectations if you let them run!

Empower people to succeed AND fail.

Motivation is not one-size-fits-all. You must figure out how to get the absolute best out of the team you’ve assembled, and what motivates one team member could discourage another.

I had a great leader at GM that always wanted new and innovative ideas. Sometimes the ideas were good, sometimes…not so much. But this leader NEVER chastised the bad ideas. I asked him “Why?” and his answer has stuck with me. “If I kicked the tail of the person bringing me bad ideas, how many NEW ideas are they going to bring to me?”

I’ve been lucky enough to coach some of my kids’ basketball teams. Without fail, when I took the role of being completely supportive, told them “I love watching you play and give it everything you got," the kids ALWAYS responded. They’ve taught me to tell people when they do something RIGHT, not just when they do something WRONG.

Many of us think we have all the answers.?I’m continuing to learn always. I love to find out how successful people are leading! I try to build a culture of learning and cultivate a growth mindset.

Have a great attitude.

What is the secret to playing on MY team, and ultimately, the key to playing WELL? It is playing with heart, and playing as a team. I’ve had lots of teammates in my playing days,?but the most successful teams I played on, the true champions, put aside everything and put the TEAM first. We played for each other, and for the greater good of the team.

People have said to me, “You don’t like to hear negativity.” That’s not true, I want to hear it. I’m just more focused on what we’re going to do about it, figuring out a plan of attack to change the trajectory. I want to hear who wants to step up to the challenge and opportunity and plan to WIN. Players need to know their coach has their back. When we trust each other – even when we’re behind on the scoreboard – we’ll figure out a way to turn things around and win.

A little while ago, our fleet team in Chicago gave me a gift that means the world to me.

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The engraving on the box says, “Coach – Your determination to succeed along with your confidence in us has brought us this triumphant winning season.” The success that our team achieved that year was because of their AMAZING work, unselfishness, and motivation to win. The gift of the whistle might have been in recognition of my determination and belief in my team, but it was ultimately THE TEAM that succeeded.

And that’s the most important parallel between sports and business – it’s always about the TEAM. ?