Anyone’s Game: What March Madness Teaches Teams About Winning
Who doesn’t love a solid underdog story? You know the one. The little-known nobody taking on the big, bad somebody.
It just feels right to root for them, doesn’t it?
That’s why March Madness is my favorite time of year. Every one of the 68 teams in the tournament has a shot. These teams have hope. They believe their one shining moment WILL happen. And it absolutely could.
I like to think about the dozens of hopeful unknown teams—lying in wait, busting at the seams to burst onto the court and fight their way to fame.
After each victory we often hear of the winning team, “Well, they wanted it more.” And yeah, being hungry for a win is important—but it only takes you so far.
When we look closer, we see bigger key common denominators at play within successful teams.
Winning teams are aligned and connected. They fight through adversity and execute under pressure. They adapt to the opposition and know they can always count on each other.
Every single year this tournament is a reminder to all organizations that the most popular or even the most talented teams don’t always win. Upsets happen and underdogs emerge. In basketball. In business. In life.
And this knowledge, it stirs something inside us. We begin to envision our own shining moment—for ourselves, our team and our organization.
Because really, it’s anyone’s game.
What steps will you take today to build a team that’s connected, aligned and able to execute and work through adversity?
Jason V. Barger is a globally celebrated keynote speaker, leadership coach and author of Thermostat Cultures, Step Back from the Baggage Claim and ReMember. He is founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting, a Columbus-based company that works with businesses and organizations worldwide. Connect via email at jason@JasonVBarger.com or on social media at @JasonVBarger.
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