Regardless of the sport, there is nothing like the finals at the end of a grueling season, and the WNBA championship series between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty is already an instant classic! Every game was a battle in sold-out arenas filled with fans of all ages and high-profile celebrities from every industry. Each game had multiple lead changes and was a battle until the very end. It was truly the best series I’ve ever watched in the WNBA and was heartbreaking to see either team lose because both were evenly matched, well-coached, and fought hard with so much on the line.
As both a high-performance executive coach and a former Final Four basketball coach, there are powerful lessons to draw from this series—particularly around resilience, team dynamics, and adaptability. Most people will never play in a professional championship game five that determines who raises the trophy at the final buzzer, but everyone can relate to the qualities and characteristics that our clients need today to lead and perform in a competitive professional environment.
Follow the ON Point Action Plan and turn this recent championship game into your playbook for success personally and professionally.
7 Ways to Use the WNBA as Your Success Playbook
Resilience & Rebounds – handling immense pressure in a high-stakes situation is the ability to stay composed and perform under pressure, bounce back after adversity & keep your mindset laser-focused, confident & committed to winning
Adaptability & A Powerful Pivot – championship games, like life & business, demand in-the-moment tweaks & adjustments—whether it's altering & responding to new defensive strategies, offensive tactics, market shifts or personnel changes, being able adjust on the fly is critical to success
Team Cohesion & Captains – each player has a specific role, responsibility, set of skills & strengths & success comes from knowing how to leverage a group of individuals to achieve a common goal & ensuring that everyone understands their part in the broader strategy is key to high performance
Coaching & Making the Call – critical decisions made by leaders & coaches during pivotal moments can change the course of an organization or game – strong coaching & communication skills are essential especially for successful change management
Preparation & Role Players – this game five underscored the importance of how backup, bench players prepare to optimize an opportunity to step up, step in, seize the moment, contribute to the team, pick up the slack & make a significant impact on the outcome
Details & The Big Game – the ability to focus & decide on every little detail, from positioning to timing, as well as keeping an eye on the changing scoreboard & future seasons can often be the difference between success & failure; knowing when to zoom in and when to zoom out
Surround Yourself with the Best – whether on the court or in the boardroom, you always want to be surrounded by the best leaders, teammates, colleagues & collaborators who are as equally dedicated to success & who make you bigger, better, faster, stronger every day
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