Lessons from March Madness

There is more to March Madness than just basketball.

As the final teams compete today for the NCAA Sweet 16, here are a couple of observations and lessons from the tournament so far.

Butler moves to the sweet 16 playing as a team. If you are a basketball fan, you have to like the way they play. Tough, smart, hard nosed and as a team. Few teams in the tournament will come closer to reaching their potential than will this team. Yes, the Butler campus is just a few miles from my home, but that doesn't change the fact that watching how they play together is a lesson in teamwork we can all learn from.

Indiana University lost to UCLA last night and their season (and for the seniors their career) is over. In the Indianapolis Star this morning, their coach Kelvin Sampson is quoted as saying, "There are alot of tears in the locker room. Kids that don't cry don't invest." What more could any coach or leader ask for than for their players or team to be invested? It begs the question, how invested are you and how invested are those you lead?

My alma mater, Purdue University plays defending National Champion the University of Florida in less than two hours. They are the biggest underdog of the day, according to the odds makers. Carl Landry, their team leader and star player was quoted in a press conference yesterday saying "I know everyone has pretty much counted us out, but this is the NCAA Tournament. If a few possessions go our way and the ball is going down, Florida has no chance."

Confidence is an important component of performance whether you are shooting baskets or shooting photographs for a marketing campaign (or doing anything else). Confidence is an under-appreciated attribute for us in the non-sports world.

I don't know what will happen in the game today (though I'll certainly be rooting for my Boilermakers), but I do know that the confidence of Carl Landry and his teammates will serve them well.

How much do you trust the strengths of your teammates?
How hard to you play?
How invested are you?
How confident are you?

There is more to March Madness than just basketball.

All you have to do is look.

Also posted in Leadership, Learning and Teamwork.

Labels: basketball, sports leaders, sports teamwork

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