--- title: 3 Leadership Lessons from the Greatest College Basketball Game Ever description: Three business leadership lessons from one of the greatest basketball games ever. image: https://www.advantexe.com/hubfs/Blogs/villanova.png --- [![logo-advantexe-150.png](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-advantexe-150.png?width=150&height=123&name=logo-advantexe-150.png "logo-advantexe-150.png")](https://www.advantexe.com) ![blog-banner-2022](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-banner-2022.png?width=973&name=blog-banner-2022.png "blog-banner-2022") ### The Advantexe Advisor Blog - providing a deep and applicable understanding of the system of business. # 3 Leadership Lessons from the Greatest College Basketball Game Ever By Robert Brodo | Apr 5, 2016 10:33:11 AM | [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2F3-business-leadership-lessons-from-the-greatest-college-basketball-game-ever%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2F3-business-leadership-lessons-from-the-greatest-college-basketball-game-ever%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2F3-business-leadership-lessons-from-the-greatest-college-basketball-game-ever%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2F3-business-leadership-lessons-from-the-greatest-college-basketball-game-ever%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=3%20Leadership%20Lessons%20from%20the%20Greatest%20College%20Basketball%20Game%20Ever) [![Share on Pinterest](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/pinterest-24x24.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2F3-business-leadership-lessons-from-the-greatest-college-basketball-game-ever%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2F3-business-leadership-lessons-from-the-greatest-college-basketball-game-ever%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2F3-business-leadership-lessons-from-the-greatest-college-basketball-game-ever%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) Villanova’s win over North Carolina on Monday night will go down in sports history as one of the ![villanova.png](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/villanova.png?width=200&height=200&name=villanova.png "villanova.png")greatest games, and wins ever.  It was reality TV at its finest moment.  As the players received the College Basketball Tournament trophy, their coaches beamed with pride for the collective accomplishment that will last their lifetimes.  I think it is a great exercise to reflect for a moment to understand and gain knowledge and insights about the [leadership](https://www.advantexe.com/business-leadership-development-programs) we witnessed and how these observations can be used in everyday business life. **The Power of Practice** Everyone on the team had great confidence that with 4.7 seconds left in the game, Villanova would win with a great shot.  Here is an interesting quote: *"Do you know how many times I've seen that kid take that shot in the summer? At least 1,000. I knew it was going in,'' *said Toronto Raptors All-Star and former Villanova player [Kyle Lowry.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Lowry) At least 1,000 times.  Whether it’s the National Championship game, a sales call, or a presentation to a new customer, the[****Power of Practice****](https://www.advantexe.com/the-power-of-practice-business-simulations) is a driving force of business success.  Way too often, business professionals rely too much on their “experience” and don’t prepare and practice enough. They just aren’t ready to make that winning shot when the game is on the line.  One of the most important things an organization can do to help their professionals develop their skills and know what to do in a critical make or break moment, is give them a platform for the power of practice.  Practice allows professionals to try new ideas and get prepared for any situation that may be thrown their way, good or bad. **Team and alignment** The Villanova basketball team is a true team in every sense and meaning of the word.  There is no single superstar, rather they are a collection of parts in a system that is focused on the bigger strategy, goals, and objectives. If you listen to any business leader talk about their most complex challenges they face in terms of executing strategy, inevitably the conversation becomes one of creating alignment and teamwork. Alignment helps to focus on a common set of goals and objectives, identifies clear roles and responsibilities, creates accountability, and will ultimately benefit individuals, the team, and the company. **It takes time** Over the past decade the quality of college basketball has deteriorated dramatically because of what is affectionately called the “one and done” phenomenon.  One and done means a hot shot high school player comes to a major college program for one year and if they are good enough – or have the potential of being good – they leave for the pros after their freshman year. The Villanova program is the opposite. Coach Jay Wright does not recruit, accept, or keep kids into his program that don’t commit to the long-term and fit the program with what they all call the right “Attitude.” They stress the importance of staying in school and getting an education. Teams practice and play together as part of a total program that understands that it takes time and dedication to get good. They also had two experienced seniors leading the team down the stretch. Those leaders carried the burden of the past and the strain of previously unsuccessful tournament runs. That experience and leadership helped them leverage those failures as a positive to teach, self-coach, motivate, and build team unity. In today’s volatile business environment where we see constant turnover, leaders are challenged to build a long-term focus and a long-term team.  The implication here is that today’s leaders must use new skills and tools to create an environment where employees want to stay, innovate, and accomplish something special together rather than looking at the job simply as a means to an end. [![Why Business Acumen Matters ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1153922/ef562d5a-acb6-45df-86ae-098c09e7fcc0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1153922/ef562d5a-acb6-45df-86ae-098c09e7fcc0) ![Robert Brodo](https://www.advantexe.com/hubfs/Blogs/rob-brodo-author.png) **About The Author** Robert Brodo is co-founder of Advantexe. He has more than 20 years of training and business simulation experience. [**](https://www.advantexe.com) [**](https://twitter.com/robrodo) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/pub/rob-brodo/0/334/574) COMMENTS ### SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL ### About Advantexe Advantexe is a gold medal winning training and performance improvement organization specializing in the development and delivery of interactive learning journeys using computer-based business simulations as the catalyst for learning and change in the areas of: Business Acumen, Business Leadership, and Strategic Business Selling learning solutions. 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