It was a great weekend with tremendous individual and collective performances on display during this years Jane & Finch Classic, a youth basketball tournament.
All eyes were on some of the best players across Canada, and it didn’t disappoint with a finale that included a nail-biting end.
My reflection last night led me to 2 key factors that separate average from highly effective teams. These lessons cross all team, industry, and seniority boundaries and will undoubtedly conclude in winning outcomes.
Here is what stood out to me from the weekend:
- Know your role and shut your mouth! All good teams have defined positions, and each member of the team operates effectively within their area of specialization without encroaching on other players strengths. Basketball has become a position-less sport. Gone are the days when a team boasted a true point guard (floor general), shooting guard (shooting specialist), small forward (versatile 2-way player), power forward (enforcer), and center (defensive presence). The modern-day roster does not have such distinct differences in physical stature and skill level. This ultimately creates confusion in role responsibilities, skill redundancy, and in some worst cases, a clash of egos.
- Total unity: One of the players for the losing team who was the best prospect within Ontario, did not have a jersey that matched his teammates. Trivial you might think, but compare that to the unified green uniforms worn by the winning team, and this fact stands out like a sore thumb. Reasons for the mismatched jersey are unknown, but the chemistry between the winning team was undeniable and it was reflected through their attire.
Playing to your strengths, staying in position, and coordinating across all fronts will allow your team to remain composed and execute in pivotal moments. This produces a winner every time!