As a lifetime basketball fan, I’ve enjoyed seeing the game develop over the years. As a business strategist, I am also fascinated by the National Basketball Association's (NBA) growth into a global organization.
I was especially happy to see the San Antonio Spurs, a truly quality organization with an international team, win the NBA championship this year. Undeniably, one of the biggest reasons for the Spurs’ success is long-time coach Gregg Popovich. Under the leadership of Coach Popovich (or Pop, as he is affectionately referred), the Spurs have been America’s most successful franchise, not just in basketball, but
in professional sports.
And he makes it all look easy.
How does he do it? An examination of Pop’s management style and strategy reveals many lessons that can benefit leaders from all areas of business.
Here are 5 lessons for all of us from Coach Pop:
1. Be willing to adapt. The game of basketball has changed – and so has Pop. From changing the game plan to fit aging players to adjusting to trends in the sport, he is always looking to tweak and keep his team performing at a high level…despite being the longest tenured coach in any of America’s four major sports leagues.
Just one example: the increased use of the 3 point line. In recent years, NBA teams have used the ‘three point field goal’ (a late addition to the rules of the game) at a higher rate, forcing coaches to adjust. Pop, notoriously ‘old-school’ in his approach,
said the following regarding the three point shot:
“I hate it. To me, it's not basketball.
But you gotta use it.”
In today’s market where Facebook is yesterday, Twitter is today, and tomorrow is coming quickly, it’s often a matter of adapting quickly – or losing market share to your competitors.
2. Make tough decisions for the benefit of the team. The decisions of an NBA coach are inherently held under a microscope and second guessed. But Popovich has a confidence that is fueled by his 'team-first' mentality.
Example:
Pop received criticism two years ago when he didn’t allow four key members of the team to play in a major televised game (hurting TV ratings and subsequent revenue) – so they could rest. That decision cost the Spurs a hefty fine of $250,000 in the end, but they stood by their coach and his decision.
Pop often limits players’ time on the court in order to keep them fresh and to help avoid injury. Some players would question this decision, since it lowers their career statistics and could possibly hurt their ‘legacy’. His response?
“…these guys could all have better stats. I play them for 29 or 30 minutes a game in their careers and their stats suffer because of it, but that sacrifice helps our entire team.”
Great leaders make tough decisions, knowing they’ll receive criticism. But they have the confidence to stand by those decisions in order to achieve their long-term goals.
3.
Learn how to deal with multiple cultures and nationalities. The current Spurs roster includes 8 players born outside the United States, including players from Canada, France, Argentina, Italy, Australia, and Brazil. How does Popovich deal with this mix of nationalities, mentalities, and cultures? Scott Cacciola of
The New York Times explored this in
his recent article:
Popovich has long espoused the virtues of an international roster, not merely because the players have a diverse set of skills but also because having them around enhances his own life. Popovich, who was born to a Serbian father and a Croatian mother, takes great pleasure, he said, in learning about his players’ lives and backgrounds…
“I think it’s just a respect for letting them know you understand they’re from another place,” Popovich said, adding, “We all grew up differently.”
In today’s shrinking world, the most successful leaders are able to communicate effectively with an international team. This involves more than just studying the culture of a specific country or two – it means
developing a global mindset.
4. Be resilient. Merriam-Webster defines resilience as: the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens.
For you non-NBA fans, it might be interesting to know the Spurs organization was moments away from also winning the NBA championship last year. Ahead by 5 points with only 28 seconds left in a potentially series ending game with the Miami Heat, the game seemed all but put away. However, the team normally known for their discipline and attention to detail uncharacteristically fell apart in those last few seconds – losing not only that game but also the following – and thus missed out on what many thought was the last chance for the aging Spurs to win it all.
How would they bounce back?
Popovich made sure the team learned from those mistakes – and used them as motivation. Multiple members of this year’s championship team mentioned last year’s Finals failure as an aid to keeping them focused…They refused to forget that bitter feeling, and the end result was redemption earlier this month:
the most lopsided NBA finals victory ever.
If your team suffers a de-motivating setback, remember: Life is full of disappointments! The agony of defeat can be crushing – or it can be used to develop a laser-like focus that inspires performance at the highest level.
When disaster strikes, pick up the pieces, learn from your mistakes, and try again. Above all – refuse to give up.
5. Care about company culture. The class of the league. Ultimate professionals. A culture of excellence. These are expressions outsiders have used to describe ‘The Spurs Way’.
So what is ‘The Spurs Way’? It can be difficult to define, but essentially it is a culture built around a values system – a system which is then inculcated into each and every part of the San Antonio Spurs organization. It works because everyone buys into it – from the role players to the star players, from the assistant coaches to Coach Pop himself.
With Popovich’s leadership and support, the Spurs have created an environment in which trust, respect, hard work, and selflessness are lauded, applauded, and reinforced at every level.
Sound too good to be true? It isn’t. Do an internet search for interviews with Spurs players and coaches, and see how these qualities are consistently reflected – by everyone.
Doesn’t sound like your style? Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, the Spurs say.
Fellow NBA organizations know how valuable training under
The Spurs Way is; many former Spurs players, coaches, and executives now have positions of responsibility in teams around the league. A quick look at
this chart (already 3 years old) shows former
Spurs members on 14 NBA teams – but that reach has certainly grown by now.
Remember: Culture starts at the top. Employees often complain about company rules or ‘codes of conduct’, not because they don’t like or agree with them – but because their own leaders refuse to follow them.
When company leaders and key team members set the example, the others will follow. The result?
A culture of excellence.
If you still aren’t convinced, take a look at the figures gathered by writer Kurt Badenhausen, in
his recent article for
Forbes Business section:
- Highest winning percentage of any team in major pro sports (U.S.) since 1997 (The team has not won fewer than 60% of its games in any season)
- The trio of Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker under the guidance of coach Gregg Popovich has won more playoff games than any trio of players in NBA history
- Posted operating profits of a record $39 million last season despite playing in the NBA’s fourth smallest market.
- Ratings for Spurs games on Fox Sports Southwest were up 15% this year and ranked second in the NBA
The Spurs have truly set a standard for business success – and they have Coach Pop to thank for a large part of it.
Want to build a ‘culture of excellence’ in your organization?
Maybe it’s time forThe Spurs Way. But remember one thing:
It’s not as easy as it looks.
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Justin Bariso is a business consultant and author who is working on his first book (topic soon revealed). He enjoys finding business lessons in various places – like while watching great basketball games. Follow him here by clicking the yellow FOLLOW button or on Twitter
@JustinJBariso.
