The moment everybody was waiting for was here. It was the rematch. Miami vs. San Antonio. The older and wiser San Antonio Spurs were up against the hungry young powerhouse Miami Heat. San Antonio was back for revenge and Miami came for the 3-peat to solidify their legacy. What many thought would be an easy victory for the Miami Heat led by "The Big 3" ended in Game 5, and "The Big 3" were to blame, as well as their weak supporting cast.
If there's one thing the NBA, sports in general, businesses and entrepreneurs can learn from the devastating loss of the Miami Heat, is that a team of limited talent and one star player will never prosper with longevity. I'm not here to argue the talent or lack there of, of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. However, LeBron James has been hailed as the greatest player in the NBA and the leader of the Miami Heat. This kind of power and arrogance has no place in a team sport. As Miami stood in the hallway in their huddle prior to Game 5, LeBron James said, "follow my lead." Can you imagine how the other players might have felt? Who wants to be on a team riding the coattails of another player? No one.
In business, many companies are often poorly structured the same way where a select few are given the freedom to express the arrogant certitude that they know all and see all, and everyone else are merely there to bask in the glory of their greatness. In order for a team in business or sport to operate effectively everyone must have and feel a level of equal ownership and value.
If you look at the San Antonio Spurs, they have a completely different approach to the game. They're set up as a true bonafide team. No one man is a superstar built and given the scepter to carry the entire team. The team was built to play together and operate based on everyone's individual strengths combining to take the team to victory.
If a team of veterans at the brink of retirement can beat a team of fresh face superstars, imagine how you can improve your business and organization by applying the simple tactics of the San Antonio Spurs. This includes:
- Honing in on the individual talents of each of your employees and meshing those talents with the rest of the team
- Giving equal opportunity, credit and recognition to all
Michael Price is an entrepreneur and author of What Next? The Millennial's Guide To Surviving and Thriving in the Real World. An advocate of ideas for radical change, he has received critical acclaim for his lessons in education, career, entrepreneurship, and personal finance.