This past weekend a sports analyst was interviewing Gregg Marshall, the head basketball Coach from the Wichita State Shockers.
In case you are not current, they are one of two undefeated teams left in college basketball this year sitting at 26 wins and no losses with only a few weeks left in the season. Regardless of who your favorite team is, hats have to go off to this great accomplishment.
When asked how they are doing it, I found Coach Marshall’s response to be one that I believe all of us interested in becoming better leaders could learn from.
He shared, “There are 27 bones in your hand. Each one of them are important and essential to a functioning hand. And that is like our organization here at WSU. Everyone is important.”
He went on to share, “We put five representatives on the floor at a time, just like the number of fingers you have. Their job is an extension of all of us as they play their best.” He then concluded, “Now if you take those fingers and close them tightly in a clinching fist, “WE ARE A MIGHTY FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!”
Bottom line, this is an excellent example of Leadership and Teamwork coming together. I know in my experience that if people have an example to draw from it helps to achieve the goal. Maybe this simple human fact of 27 bones in a hand helps you today as you lead your staff/team to become the best they can be.
Three things we can learn from this analogy are:
1. Just as each individual bone has a purpose, each person must know and realize his/her role and perform it to the best of their ability.
2. When the bones and fingers in your hand come together they can indeed be a force to be reckoned with. When your team comes together for the good of the overall goal, they can also become a force to be reckoned with.
3. Finally, your team must have a passion for their work like none other. A limp or soft fist won’t be much of a force, but if each member of the team will stand firm together and united, they will realize their power as a whole.
Good Luck on building your team…may you become “A Mighty Force to be Reckoned With!”
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