Lead Like a Point Guard

by Eddie Pipkin

The college basketball season wrapped up this week, with the women’s final on Sunday afternoon and the men’s final on Monday night. As always, the games delivered heroics and heartbreaks. If you don’t follow basketball, allow me to remind you that there are five players on a team, and while each of the five designated positions is vital, the point guard has special responsibilities. When that player is smart, quick, decisive, and fearless, good things happen for a team. It’s almost impossible to make it to the Final Four without a stellar point guard. They have valuable lessons to share with you ministry leaders (but only if you want to lead like a winner). Game on!

Of the five positions on the floor (small forward, power forward, point guard, shooting guard, and center), the point guard is not necessarily the best player or most gifted shooter (although they certainly can be – especially in an era in which the three-point shot is so important). Their principal role, however, is to run the offense. They often referred to as “floor general” or the “coach on the floor.” Their job is to work in tandem with the vision strategy of the coach, setting up plays, analyzing the situation in the moment, the problems and opportunities, feeding the ball to the player with the best chance of scoring, and setting up the team for success.

I don’t know a better explanation for what a lead pastor should be doing at their local church. (Or to consider this example more broadly, what any team leader ought to be doing for their team.)

If we lead like a point guard, we are effective in carrying out the agreed-upon team strategy by setting up everyone to maximize their individual skill sets to take advantage of the situation at hand in a given moment. We should be adaptable, faithful to the game plan, but willing to make split second decisions to seize a chance when a chance presents itself.

One of the most potent examples of the value of an all-star point guard is that he or she does NOT take all the shots. They are not afraid to take a game-winning shot if they are open and the shot is clearly theirs to take, BUT point guards often tally more ASSISTS in a game than actual shot attempts. Their commitment is to maximize scoring, and the key is to get the ball to the person who is in the best position to get points on the board.

So, if God is the ultimate Coach, and the team, working under the guidance of the Coach, has developed a carefully considered vision / strategy, the ministry leader / point guard uses everybody on the team, working together, moving the players around, passing the ball, analyzing the obstacles, and feeding the ball to the specialist who can shine brightest in any given moment and get the ball into the hoop.

It’s leadership that is fearless, but unselfish.

Think, unfortunately, how many times we have been in situations where we have experienced the opposite of that or been, ourselves, guilty of the opposite of that. I’m talking about “ball hogs.” We’ve all seen ball hogs in our careers. We’ve sometimes been ball hogs, insisting on taking the shot, even when someone else was objectively in a much better position, and the results have sometimes been painful to watch.

We’ve watched team leaders take on too much work. We’ve squirmed while team leaders took on projects that did not mesh well with their skill set. We’ve sighed with frustration when team leaders made decisions based on past approaches that had absolutely nothing to do with the present context. These scenarios result in disappointing results.

If we’re lucky, we’ve also had the great pleasure and profound sense of satisfaction of working with a team leader who was willing to share the ball. Good things happen when we share the ball!

Here is what a point guard does, consistently and with style:

Honestly assess the situation.

The ability to call the right play and to adapt to circumstances is only as effective as there is a realistic evaluation of the current conditions. Wishful thinking or an inability to acknowledge real complications doesn’t help anybody.

Make good decisions.

You should have a decision-making process – the emphasis being on process. Decision making shouldn’t be haphazard and unfocused. You should be well-practiced in the steps (internally and externally) you will take when it’s time to make any decision.

Give clear guidance.

Once you’ve decided on the appropriate play, give clear, unambiguous direction. It’s instructive to watch the way actual point guards do this on the court. Sometimes it’s by shouting out instructions, sometimes it’s with a hand signal, and sometimes it’s by eye contact and body language, possible because the team evolved so completely as a unit. Know what methods work the best with your team and use those.

Make bold decisions when that’s what’s needed.

Don’t be afraid to take risks. Big swings can result in big hits (to mix sports metaphors). The ability to make a seemingly risky decision is intimately tied to thorough preparation. The more deeply you prepare, the more qualified you are to make quick decisions with confidence.

Pass the ball.

Don’t be a ball hog. The team will always be stronger if everybody gets a chance to shine. Sharing responsibilities means everyone gets to bring their strengths to the court.

Take the shot (when it’s the right moment).

When an opportunity presents itself to do the thing that you are most gifted for and passionate about, step up and perform. Don’t be shy about doing a specific thing you know you are called to do. (Just don’t think that, in your case, that means you are called to do EVERYTHING, ALL THE TIME.) When things are at a critical juncture, don’t be afraid to take on the pressure of the big moment.

Share the credit.

When the goal has been accomplished, be humble about acknowledging everyone on the team and the contributions large and small that they brought to the accomplishment. Reward the people that helped you to this moment by giving them vocal, public praise.

How do you see yourself when you think of the team you lead as a basketball squad? Are you doing what’s best for the team? Or are you making decisions that focus on your personal glory and success? No right answers here! (Just kidding. There’s clearly a right answer.) Share your thoughts in the comments section.