When the Subs Come In

The Saint Peter’s basketball team was the marquee story of the NCAA Tournament during its magical run to the Elite Eight.

But while the Peacocks’ scrappiness, tactical schemes and underdog heroics have been the envy of the sports world and beyond in recent weeks, one 10-second clip of the team in particular might be the most relevant for us as leaders.

During Saint Peter’s Friday night match up against Purdue, Coach Shaheen Holloway substituted five players out of the game at once, a major rarity in the sport.

But as the new ones entered and those who were in the game headed to the bench, there was no pushback, conflict or anyone asking, “Coach, why am I out?”

Instead, there were high fives, a hug and a coaching staff on its feet. And when the substitutes took the floor, they each had their jerseys tucked in and appeared incredibly focused on the mission at hand.

While it may be tempting to say, “These players get it,” and bemoan why our particular team members do not, the credit for this type of culture ultimately begins with the leader.

Holloway seemed to have made his team’s “Why” — its purpose and its identity — abundantly clear and had earned the right to be a bit unconventional with the strategy.

For us as leaders, it’s an important reminder that while our ideas and philosophies contribute to our overall culture, at the root of our identity and success must always be trust and relationships.

Before we try something unconventional, we must earn respect and credibility with the people we’re asking to execute the assignment.

The greatest idea can fall on deaf ears without trust and love at its core.

Saint Peter’s run over the past two weeks will be remembered as perhaps the most improbable in college basketball history, and the team will undoubtedly be celebrated for years to come.

But the image we remember shouldn’t be a dunk, a three-pointer or a team member hopping on a table after a thrilling victory.

It should be five players coming out and five players coming in — each cheering for the other’s success.