Why Referees Are Great Leaders

As March Madness is winding down and we hear about all the great games and Cinderella runs, the one group we don’t hear much about is the officials. But surprisingly we can learn a lot about business from watching the referees. Their quiet yet constant presence helps facilitate the games. Without them, chaos would ensue. But how do they keep their cool during some of the most stressful scenarios of the season? In this article I unlock some of the mysteries about what it is like to be a basketball official and how being decisive, managing conflict and working as a team can help them both on and off the court. ?

Decisiveness- The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively is one of the top responsibilities of a referee on the court. A delay in call can cause confusion and lead to play challenges by coaches, which inevitably leads them to question the officials and lose trust in their ability to run the game.

?In a typical game each team averages 20.5 fouls. (ncca.org). Every one of those fouls is a split second decision made by the referee determining if it was offensive or defensive. They get one chance to make that call and one chance only. The calls must be swift, solid, without question and the game must go on. The whistle blows, the call is made and within seconds eyes are on the ref watching and waiting for them to indicate which side will get possession of the ball. Sounds like a lot of pressure right? It is and being under that constant pressure over and over builds character and lends itself to strong business sense in the workforce.

Imagine the last meeting you were in. Everyone likely sat around a table or on zoom and threw out ides. Often times meetings take much longer than needed simply because people are afraid to make a decision, to be the one to make the final call. Making the final call can be intimidating and overwhelming, with all eyes on you, but once you have done it a few times you will become more comfortable with making quick decisions. This isn’t to say you should take charge of every meeting, but if you know the right move don’t be afraid to say so.?Eventually you will notice that when conversations start going around in circles, people will turn to you for your opinion, to be the one to blow the whistle, to make that call so the game can continue.

Handling Conflict – There is an old saying, every time a foul is called 50% of the crowd loves you and 50% of the crowd hates you. So, when an official report’s the foul, they must handle the objections of the coach, players and even the fans. No matter what call is made, someone is going to be upset. Knowing that you are making a decision that is 100% going to upset 50% of the people you are with is definitely a daunting task, but one that most officials have learned to master with grace and this is how: Confidence and communication.??

If you watch the officials closely during a game, you will see they have “strong mechanics.” Meaning when they walk, they walk with a purpose. When they report a foul, their hands and fingers are up high so everyone can see them and sometimes you can even hear them report, which is usually slow, loud and with command. It is done this way intentionally, to show authority and confidence in the call or decision they made. ?

Communication during a game can be tricky. There is no time to have full discussions with coaches or players about why a call was made. Usually these conversations happen on the fly, as a player is walking to his spot on the court, as a coach is subbing in a new player. The job of the official is to make sure the player or coach understands that they have been heard without committing to further action or promise regarding future plays, and the best way to do this is to listen. Just listen. Let them yell, let them scream, let them protest. There is no need to respond, only answer questions not comments. ?

This trait will serve you well in the business world too. When you come across a difficult client or disgruntled customer, listen to their concerns. Without objection, without responding, without defending yourself. Only answer questions, not comments. You might be surprised at how many people just want to feel like they have been heard.

Teamwork – There are 3 teams on the court, the two teams playing and the 2 or 3 officials working the game. It is imperative that the three officials communicate and are on the “same page.” What this means is talking before the game about plays and situations they may face and how they will handle it during the game. The best officiated games are the ones where you see the officials call similar plays regardless of who makes the call or where they are on the court, they are in synch. In business you must work well with your team. Take the time to learn how your co workers manage conflict and what drives them. Knowing how they work allows you to understand how to better work with them. ?

If you are interested in officiating, please contact your local state high school association to find out more.

?David Posner is a VP of Sales for ShiftMed and currently officiates basketball for Ice Cube’s Big3 league. He is available for speaking private speaking events, reach out directly for information.