TED - An NBA Champion’s Advice on Being a Top Teammate | Shane Battier | TED
The speaker emphasizes that significant impact is made not by being in the spotlight but through actions that elevate others. Drawing from his experience as an NBA player, he explains that his success was not due to scoring but by making small, crucial plays that helped his team win. He highlights the importance of 'we' over 'me,' learned from childhood games, which shaped his career. The 'Battier effect' is introduced, which is about consistently asking how one can make others better. Practical applications include mentoring, helping others, and performing small acts that contribute to the collective success of a team or community. These actions, though not glamorous, create lasting legacies and winning teams.
Key Points:
- Impact is made through actions that elevate others, not personal achievements.
- The 'Battier effect' focuses on improving the collective potential of a group.
- Small, unseen actions like mentoring or helping others are crucial.
- Success is about being the glue that holds a team together, not the star.
- Creating a legacy involves consistently contributing to others' success.
Details:
1. 🌟 Influencing from the Shadows
- The biggest impact you can make happens outside the spotlight.
- Success stories often involve individuals or teams who drive change without seeking public recognition.
- Influencing from the shadows requires strategic thinking, collaboration, and a focus on long-term goals.
- Case Study: A project manager at a tech company streamlined operations, reducing costs by 20% without public acknowledgment.
- Key Strategy: Build alliances and networks to amplify influence and drive initiatives forward.
- Consideration: Measure success by the outcomes achieved rather than personal credit received.
2. 🏀 Lessons from Basketball Legends
- Influence an entire symphony without picking up the conductor's wand, suggesting impact through indirect means.
- In basketball, significant change can occur not when the ball is in your hands, but through actions taken when it is not.
- Players like Dennis Rodman have demonstrated influence by dominating defensive plays and rebounds, altering the game's momentum without scoring.
- Off-ball movements and strategic positioning can shift the opponent's defense, creating opportunities for teammates.
3. 🤔 The Question of Impact
- The speaker practiced basketball for thousands of hours, illustrating the dedication required to reach professional levels.
- Despite extensive practice, the speaker only touched the ball 2% of the time during games, highlighting the importance of skills beyond direct ball handling.
- The speaker played alongside Hall of Famers like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, emphasizing the high level of competition and teamwork.
- The narrative raises the question of how players contribute to team success when they are not in possession of the ball, suggesting that impact goes beyond individual performance.
4. 👶 Growing Up as a Misfit
- The speaker grew up in a small town outside of Detroit as a misfit, being the only child with a Black father and a white mother, indicating racial diversity in a homogeneous environment.
- Despite economic hardships, such as having patches on jeans and a leaky roof, the speaker found solace in sports during playground time, highlighting the importance of physical activities in creating a sense of belonging.
- The speaker learned the life-changing lesson of "the power of 'we' over 'me'" during childhood games, which shifted identity from being a mixed, poor, and tall kid to simply being a teammate. This underscores the transformative power of teamwork and collective identity.
5. ❤️ The Power of 'We' over 'Me'
- Focus on helping others succeed can be a powerful motivator, as demonstrated by the speaker’s obsession with helping friends win and look good, driven by a desire for love.
- The speaker attributes the principle of prioritizing others to his success in basketball, which began in kindergarten on the playground and continued throughout his career.
- The speaker's career achievements include two Final Fours at Duke University, a national championship, and two NBA titles in Miami, highlighting the effectiveness of a team-oriented approach.
6. 👟 Contributions Beyond the Spotlight
- The speaker emphasized a focus on helping the team win rather than personal glory, stating, 'I was obsessed with what can I do to help my friends and my team win.'
- Despite not being a high scorer, the speaker contributed through hustle plays, likening themselves to 'the LeBron James of diving on the ball,' and 'the Steph Curry of running back on defense.'
- The speaker's contributions included solid inbound passing in critical game situations, even though these are not flashy plays.
- The speaker's teams consistently outscored opponents by five points per game when they were on the floor, highlighting their impactful presence.
- This impact places the speaker in the top 97th percentile for players over the past three decades, alongside notable names like Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant.
- The speaker's contributions were significant despite not being widely recognized by average NBA fans.
7. 📈 Beyond the 'Spotlight Metrics'
- Focus on 'spotlight metrics' like GPA, salary, and social media likes often overlooks intangible contributions.
- 'Spotlight metrics' emphasize personal achievements while neglecting how we elevate others.
- Example of importance in intangible impact from Michael Lewis's 'The No-Stats All-Star' emphasizing broader influence beyond visible statistics.
8. 🤝 The Battier Effect
- The Battier Effect emphasizes making small, impactful plays for others, such as mentoring, cleaning up, or supporting someone emotionally.
- Such actions, while not measurable on scorecards, are crucial for building successful teams across industries.
- The Butler University business school identified individuals who live to elevate others as key components of winning teams, dubbing this the 'Battier effect.'
- The core question of The Battier Effect is: "How can I make others better?" and focuses on increasing the collective potential of those around you in business, family, and friendships.
9. 🏆 Creating Legacy through Elevating Others
- Elevating others is crucial for creating a personal legacy, as it attracts people to your success and influence.
- The real value lies in being the 'glue person' who makes everything work, rather than seeking to be the star.
- Evaluating how you use your time, energy, and talents to uplift others can significantly impact personal and collective success.
- Focusing on elevating others changes outcomes, lives, and helps in building a lasting legacy.
10. 👏 Closing Cheers
- The conclusion of the event was marked by expressions of gratitude from the host, highlighting the success and engagement throughout the event.
- Audience applause indicated a positive reception and satisfaction with the event's outcomes.