Let the Players Decide!
"Let the players decide the game!"
They did...
As you see in the photo, B2 got beat to the spot and "decided" to grab the airborne shooter's hip, displace him, and interfere with the last-second shot.
This is a foul that needed to be called. Thankfully, it was. The shooter then went to the line and won the game on a high-stakes free throw to take his team to The Final Four.
Despite what critics of the call may say, the players decided this game. Don't let anyone tell you anything different.
As a senior leader, do you ever find yourself in the position of the official in this moment?
You see the need to make a call. But if you make the call, you risk being criticized for "meddling" or "getting in the weeds" or "not giving your team the authority they need to do their job" or "____".
Fill in the blank. It's a tough call. And you need to make it. That's why you are where you are within the organization.
It is a difficult place to reside.
With your experience and 50,000 foot view, you see a call that needs to be made, but the risk of impacting the culture you've worked so hard to develop is real.
Use good judgment. Discern. Maybe even allow the mistake if the risk is relatively low and the team can learn from it.
But if you deem it necessary, make the call with confidence and conviction.
Then deal with any felt sense of controversy that may arise and help your people to move on - hopefully with a growing sense of trust that you still care enough to lead.
Yes, you want your teams to feel a sense of autonomy and freedom – to create, develop, and deliver – on mission and within a defined set of boundaries.
But when those boundaries are breached, be strong enough to make the call. Even in the waning seconds of the game.
Because hard calls are one of the few responsibilities that, quite frankly, very often land solely on your plate.
Now that you’re warmed up, have a fantastic rest of your week, my friends!
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This Week’s Resource Recommendation:
Flow State Decision Making (video)
In this video, Rian Doris (Co-Founder & CEO of Flow Research Collective) unpacks two distinct modes of thinking and teaches a method for tapping into the powerful state of subconscious decision making – something we often refer to as “flow”.
Is a 25-minute master class too long for you? TL:DR? Here’s the cliffs notes for ya’:
1. Get clear on the root problem you want to solve (it’s likely not what you think it is).
2. Write the problem down in a question form to get the brain working (writing it down is an imperative step).
3. Enter pleasurable flow states unrelated to the problem (like walking, showering, or gardening).
4. Let the powerful subconscious abilities go to work on your behalf (the brain speed difference is staggering).
5. Come back to the question you wrote down and begin writing answers to that problem (your pen will have a hard time keeping up).
Your call. But if you want to understand why this works and expose your mind to some of the nuances and science behind the method, consider investing half an hour of your time. I do believe you’ll be better for it.
And, of course, as Christian leaders, this methodology is only enhanced by regular time with God and in his Word. It is easy to see why when you read between the lines of Rian’s message and apply these concepts to our spiritual development!
MMS 24-04
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Blessings to you, my friend!
