It’s here — the bracket of glory, or the bracket of destruction.
While we’re watching the games and reviewing our brackets, there are a few leadership lessons to learn from all the madness.
#1: Our team needs to be involved in the process.
What fun would it be to tell someone on Monday about all the games over the weekend? A big part of the fun is in the anticipation, the planning and the development.
It’s like that with leadership.
A friend told me the way his organization developed goals was that the point person came out of the office and told the organization where they were going in the coming year. It was good stuff, but not very motivating.
Good leaders know how to lead to where they are feeling called, but they also know how to bring the team along with them and to get developmental ideas from those that are going to be executing the plan. People love that kind of leadership and involvement!
#2: Our team needs to cheer.
Just take a trip to Buffalo Wild Wings on Thursday or Friday this week. People will be cheering so loud you won’t be able to hear the crunch of the wings you’re eating.
In your church, business, family, organization or team, give your “players” and “fans” something to cheer about — and give them an opportunity to cheer.
As a go-getter, I’ve had to learn this skill, and I’m still working on it. I have a tendency to just want to move ahead to the next challenge instead of stopping and celebrating. Create time and opportunity for your team to celebrate the victories and accomplishments!
#3: Our team needs One Shining Moment.
My favorite part of March Madness is the video after the championship game reflecting back on the last 3 weeks — the joys and the sorrows, the heart-beating and the heartbreaking moments. Telling stories is a great way to reflect. Discussing lessons learned is a good way to reflect. Reviewing the goals and the accomplishments is a good way to embrace that one shining moment.
As a leader, be sure to recognize the moment. Those stories, discussions and reviews will have much more effect on the one shining moment for your team.
#4: Our team needs to know there’s more.
One of the saddest moments for me is to think that for many of these “kids,” this will be the highlight of their lives. That’s not the way it should be. They need to have a vision cast that there is more to this life than basketball. That after the valley is a mountaintop. That they will learn from this tremendous experience — the good or the bad — and be able to leverage it for a lifetime of success.
Leaders are the ones who teach and cast that vision to those they lead. Parents, this is your job. Coaches, this is your job. Supervisors, this is your job. Proverbs 29:18 says that without a vision the people perish.
What other leadership lessons do you see from the madness?
Live well. Lead well.
Eric Rojas loves his role as the executive pastor of Christ Community Church in St. Charles, IL, where he oversees a staff of 120 and serves alongside Senior Pastor Jim Nicodem. He has been on staff at CCC since 2000. During his 20+ years of ministry, Rojas has served in churches as a youth pastor, adult ministries pastor, small groups pastor, associate pastor, worship pastor and men’s pastor. He is a contributing author for Group Publishing’s Men’s Ministry in the 21st Century and has written for various magazines and websites. Rojas also serves the church-at-large through consulting and seminar presenting. He has been married to his wife, Rachel, for 22 years. They have 3 children — Luke, 21; Adam, 19; and Chloe, 17. A man of faith, Rojas believes that next year is the year the Cubs will finally win the World.
