Leadership in Sports

The great value of leadership is in its diversity of applications. One application of leadership that I experience every day is in the field of sports. Especially in team sports, the presence of good leadership to set a good example, provide organization, present goals, and execute plays is critical for success. There is no better time to see leadership in action than in the tight, highly pressurized atmosphere of the playoffs. Here are a few leadership insights we can gain from this year’s NBA and NHL playoffs.

Sharing is Caring. When we look at the Boston Celtics, we essentially have four super-stars on one team, all leading in harmony. All four players (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo) have the skills and the experience to take charge on any team, and yet we see this leadership divided amongst them. We see no conflict among the players nor any form of power struggle. Sometimes, being a good leader involves sharing the helm of the team with others.

Know Thyself. After watching the critical Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies, we can see the importance of knowing your own strengths and weaknesses and how to best impact your team. Russell Westbrook, as starting point guard on the Oklahoma City Thunder, handles the ball most and leads many of the plays on the team. However, the danger with that is it is very tempting to take control and become selfish. Although Westbrook can be a very good shooter, he is much better at creating plays and scoring chances for others, namely Kevin Durant. In the Game 6 loss, Westbrook took almost as many shots as the rest of the starting lineup combined. However, in Game 7, Westbrook led the team in assists and only took half as many shots as Durant. The result? A critical Game 7 win simply by doing what he does best.

Find your Fountain of Youth. At 39 years of age and in his rookie season, Guy Boucher is the youngest current NHL coach. However, he has managed to transform the Tampa Bay Lightning into one of the powerhouse teams of the NHL by not being afraid to take risks. His choice of using a 1-3-1 formation is highly unorthodox in hockey, but it has proven to work wonders for the Lightning. So the next time you’re leading a group, why not try a crazy and weird idea? Who knows, it just might be crazy enough to work! You won’t know until you’ve tried it.

Just Do It. Something must be said about Kobe Bryant. While many believe him to be a “ball-hog” and a “shoot first, pass second” kind of player, I feel that his determination is missed in this analysis. When he gets frustrated with his team, he doesn’t dwell on the negatives; he simply grabs the ball and tries to do the work and make the plays. Although a dangerous tactic, this leadership style can not only lead others by example, but also bring about a positive determination to the team. When your group runs into problems, don’t stand around and repeat the negatives. Get determined to push through and just do it!

So the next time you end up watching a sports game, whether it be by accidentally flipping the channel to ESPN or watching every play intently as if your life is dependent on it, try and look for different leadership qualities and traits exhibited by the players and coaches. You never know what you might pick up!

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