One Shining Moment
Unlikely Lessons from my trip to the NCAA Tournament
I was reminded that sports are a great microcosm for what we face in life when I attended the NCAA Tournament with my son this week. Don’t miss these three timely leadership lessons:
It’s no secret that I love basketball - specifically college basketball. Every year when March Madness comes around I get amped for three weeks of exciting games, compelling stories, and the crowning of a new champion. “Selection Sunday” - the day that the pairings are announced might as well be a holiday in our household.
As a kid I couldn’t wait until the newspaper arrived at our house the following Monday morning so I could cut out the bracket and begin filling it out with my predictions. I’ve been running a pool since I was in 7th grade. In college, we transformed our tiny living room into a watch party site, with multiple TV’s and “stadium seating.” And now I get to share my love of the NCAA Tournament with my son, Ajay. We got to attend two of the second round games in Denver this year, and he might be even more excited than me to follow the progress of his predictions.
But perhaps my favorite part of it all is after the final game. It is the three minute highlight montage to the music of Luther Vandross singing “One Shining Moment.” The video does an incredible job of capturing the competitiveness, the camaraderie, and the emotions that come from the players, coaches, and fans that get to be part of a single elimination tournament. A competition that starts with 68 teams and leaves only one team celebrating at the end.
Sports are a great microcosm for what we face in life and specifically leadership. So with inspiration from The NCAA Tournament, here are three leadership lessons for you this week:
3 Leadership Lessons from the NCAA Tournament
Preparation meets opportunity. Less than 5% of the roughly 34,000 NCAA basketball players (men and women) go on to play professionally after college and less than 2% make it to the NBA/WNBA. Yet most of these athletes have trained almost their entire life to play at that level. What we get to see are some of the defining moments in their basketball careers, but we don’t see the years of preparation that went in to getting them to that spot.
Leadership Lesson # 1: Opportunities in life aren’t always as neatly packaged as an end-of-the-season tournament. Leaders must constantly prepare even when they aren’t in the spotlight. The behind the scenes work often leads to breakthrough moments when it counts the most.
Composure under pressure. The players in the NCAA tournament face tight games, overtimes, buzzer beaters, and for some there are very high expectations.
Leadership Lesson #2: Build your tools to develop your sense of calm. Great leaders are able to stay calm and composed when the stakes are high. They learn to guide their teams through stressful, chaotic, and challenging times.
Moments Matter. “One Shining Moment” reminds us that it’s not just about the team that wins it all or the trophy at the end. It’s about the journey, the emotions, and making your mark by doing your best. Great leaders have an appreciation for what their teams go through on a daily basis and recognize both the agony and the elation that comes when you give something your all.
Leadership Lesson #3: Great leaders learn to celebrate the small victories along the way, honor growth, foster trust, and build others up to face future challenges.
The college basketball season came to an end on Monday night, and our family got to celebrate April’s alma mater, the Florida Gators, winning it all! Between now and next March, apply these lessons so that come this time next year - you are proud of your highlight reel.
Keep MIBE-ing!
Anthony Lambatos
Founder MIBE
Owner, Footers Catering
P.S. Want to be sure you're building a winning team? Join me and the MIBE team at our Heart Leadership Workshop in August.
