Hi there,
It’s the start of the NBA Finals!
As I’m writing this in May, I’m hoping the Celtics are about to take it all home…
But what does basketball have to do with project leadership?
Surprisingly, a lot.
⚡ Supercharge of the Week
Remote Octopus recommends emphasizing & celebrating key milestones with the team during long projects.
🏀 This is where basketball comes in.
The average NBA season is 82 games. This doesn’t include the playoff games which consist of 4 rounds of up to 7 games each – or the All-Star game or the in-season tournament.
The NBA season typically starts in October and the finals go into June… a 9 month project! Not even considering off-season practices and commitments.
How do the teams and players stay motivated for 9 months to win a championship banner?
In the words of Eddie House & NBC Sports Boston:
They focus on winning one game at a time. Then they do it again.
They focus on winning one quarter at a time. Then they do it again.
They focus on winning 2 minutes at a time. Then they do it again.
By breaking down their 9 month project into quarters or minutes, players stay focused, motivated, and engaged. They are clear on what they need to do to be successful in the short-term in order to achieve their long-term goal of a championship banner.
You can do the same thing as a project leader on a long project.
Consider a long project you’re leading right now – maybe it’s 6 months, 12 months, or even longer!
What milestones are clearly identified for the team?
What celebrations are clearly identified for the team?
Identify opportunities to add in additional key milestones and celebrate success together. Clearly communicate these opportunities to the team and model your excitement as they approach (see: emotional contagion).
Focus on winning one milestone at a time.
Then do it again.
Then go root for the Celtics to win this year’s banner (just kidding). ☘️
🐙 Remote Octopus Resources
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