March Madness: Lessons in Leadership & Success

Millions watch the best college basketball teams compete for the championship title. But what can March Madness teach us about leadership and success? As it turns out, quite a bit.

At BRYC, our programs are our #1 product! We have a clear vision for our programs and use data to plan every step we take. This kind of focus and attention to detail is critical for success, whether competing in a basketball tournament or operating in a non-profit organization. Like coaches carefully analyze their opponents and design game plans to exploit their weaknesses, we use our logic model and Fellow data to design programs to help us achieve our OKRAs (objectives, key results, and actions).

But it’s not enough to have a plan. You also need to execute it effectively. This is where our program facilitators come in. Following an electric facilitation model, they use best-practice instructional techniques to ensure Fellows leave our programs with key understandings and skills. They create an environment where students can do valuable work and practice learning. This is similar to how basketball coaches prepare their players for games by drilling them on specific skills and tactics.

Finally, our program environments are a thoughtful balance of rigor and joy. We want our Fellows to learn and practice empowering college behavior, but we also want them to have fun and enjoy the process, even when challenging. This balance is similar to how basketball teams must find a balance between intensity and enjoyment to perform at their best.

So what can we learn from March Madness about leadership and success? First – have a clear vision and use data to plan your product. Second – execute programs effectively using best-practice techniques. And third, create an environment that balances rigor and joy as successful basketball teams do. By staying focused on your #1 product and following these principles, achieving goals and being successful can lead you to the center of the bracket.