LEADERS SHOW COMPASION AND EMPATHY FOR INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEMBERS
People who read this weekly leadership newsletter know I am a big sports fan. Many of you who know me know that I am easily touched by wonderful stories. In fact, I am frequently teased by members of my family about how easily I cry in happy moments.
Every once in awhile, I come across a story in the sports section that tugs at my heart strings and produces tears of joy. This happened several weeks ago when I read a piece by Jon Krawczynski in The Athletic.
Even if you are not a sports fan, I encourage you to keep reading. This story demonstrates how a leader can impact one of his or her team members – in this case a literal team member – and consequently impact the entire team in a meaningful way,
Here is Jon’s story, with a byline from Minneapolis:
“About 35 minutes before the Minnesota Timberwolves were set to tip off against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, an eruption could be heard in the back hallways of Target Center.
It came from the locker room, and the timing seemed odd for a team that was in the doldrums after two straight dispiriting losses to teams that had no business winning in this building. It came from an announcement from head coach Chris Finch, just before the regular game plan meeting started.
As the team gathered around, Finch told them they had the chance to do something special on this night. He wasn’t talking about getting revenge on the Pelicans, who embarrassed them two nights prior. He wasn’t talking about closing the gap on the Golden State Warriors for the coveted No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoff chase. He was talking about doing something for one of their own and a family that has been through hell.
Finch told his team that he was giving veteran forward Joe Ingles his first start of the season, even though this was a “must-win game.” As the players looked around at each other, he told them why a guy who had appeared in only 18 of the team’s previous 71 games, five of which lasted 3 seconds or less, was suddenly starting for a team that was flailing.
He told them that Ingles’ wife and three children were in town visiting this week and that one of life’s little miracles had occurred for them at a game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
He told them how Ingles’ 8-year-old son, Jacob, has autism, and how he had never been able to sit through the sensory overload of an NBA game from start to finish. He told them that on Sunday, for the first time ever, Jacob was able to watch the entire game, an incredible breakthrough for him and the family that has fought so hard for him since he was diagnosed at 2 1/2 years old.
There was only one bummer: Ingles did not play in that game. Friday marked the last day the family would be together before mom and the kids headed back to their full-time home in Orlando, where Jacob has a school that he loves and a house that provides him with much-needed comfort.
When Finch got word of Jacob’s milestone, he became determined to make sure that the boy got to see his dad on the court this time. Not only did Finch plan to play Ingles against the Pelicans, he told his team that he planned to put him in the starting lineup.
“I figured, if we’re going to do it, let’s do it in style,” Finch said.
The entire team started clapping and cheering, a response so emphatic that the cement block walls that separate the locker room from the arena hallway couldn’t contain the noise.
All of a sudden, a team that had lost its swag, as Julius Randle put it after the loss on Wednesday dropped them to eighth in the West, was reinvigorated.
“I would want coach to do the same for me if I was in that position,” forward Jaden McDaniels said.
What followed was a 134-93 victory over the Pels. Randle had 20 points, six rebounds and five assists, Rudy Gobert had 15 points, 11 rebounds and three steals and Anthony Edwards scored 17 points.
The most important person on the court that night went scoreless in six minutes, missing all three of his shots, committing two fouls and turning it over once.
The most important person in the building, a young boy who was non-verbal early on in his diagnosis but is now in school and growing and developing and blossoming, was able to watch an entire NBA game for the second time in a row. The only difference this time was Jacob got to see his dad play.
“This is the stuff,” Ingles said, “I’ll remember forever.”
Friends, this is an example of leadership filled with caring, compassion and commitment. It is worthwhile for us to ponder the beautiful gesture shown by Chris Finch and think about how we too can extend ourselves for our teammates, at work and in our volunteer roles.
Remember – leadership is about serving as a role model!
If you believe this content would resonate with a friend or colleague, please feel free to forward it along!
-Larry