I came across an interesting article posted in the Washington Post on research done out of Spain on the 'randomness' of basketball games. Yves de Sáo Guerra of University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria studied 6130 basketball games and learned basketball is not really random.
Basketball teams were found to be much like sand dunes - self-organized systems - that flow until even the smallest movement compels them to break from the flow into a different direction. This process allows basketball teams to recognize changes in their environment to take advantage situations for the betterment of the team. The team evolves ever so slightly.
There are a couple keys for basketball teams to regularly engage in this 'micro-evolution'.
- Players, in practice, are forced to react in drills to different stimuli and make adjustments, and
- They are encouraged to explore various adjustments and make mistakes for it is in these mistakes where learning happens.
The article also talks about how the last minute of games are totally different than earlier parts of the game. Part of that is from added stress enforced by each team as well as the tightening up of the windows of opportunity. Fouling increases in the final minute of a game are decided, many times, by free throws. This, to me indicates a shutting down of openness to opportunities and making rash actions when the moment becomes too stressful. Top, championship teams take those actions less than other teams and, instead, seize the moment.
So, you ask, why am I writing about this in a business blog? Great question.
Companies, and leaders, that languish usually look to have processes and procedures that force things to be done certain ways. They dictate what to do and how to do it. They don't engender creativity, best practices or innovation. When mistakes are made, leaders blame and even berate those who 'committed' them discouraging further stretching.
What are some ways you can develop and ingrain a culture where your teams, and your organization can continuously evolve?
In a future post, I'll delve into each of these three bullets with some more specific ideas on each.
Each of the people in your organizations are capable of seeing opportunities and taking advantage of them. If you lead in a way that encourages that process, you have powerful resources to grow and evolve.