Gonzaga showed us that Davids can run with Giants, and here’s why Founders should look at their slingshot

Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Unleash your most dangerous weapon by creating a cohesive culture and investing in your teammates

Everyone loves to root for the underdog. Whether a startup business or a local sports team, the little guy that topples the giant using grit and perseverance inspires us. Founders can relate: they typically begin their journey at the bottom, and have everything to prove - especially when their competitors are Goliaths.

It’s that time of year for the Big Dance (a.k.a. the NCAA March Madness Tournament) and the Cinderella’s are out to play. Whether you have a busted or winning bracket this year, the college tournament undoubtedly demands our attention every spring. In honor of my alma mater’s coveted place among the Final Four, here is an alternative perspective of what we can learn from the teams we hungrily follow.

Empires can quickly crumble, and the well-rounded speed and agility of the underdog can readily gain traction to the next level. That’s a lesson Gonzaga grasped and has been building upon for eighteen years.

 

For all the Davids of the world, this one’s for you.

Gonzaga’s evolution from a small, unknown school in Eastern Washington to a collegiate basketball force began with a miraculous Cinderella run in 1999, when Dan Monson’s Zags knocked off powerhouses Minnesota, Stanford and Florida before falling to Connecticut in the Elite Eight. But when Mark Few, the then-36 year old assistant stepped up to lead the team the following season, he knew “we didn’t want to be a one hit wonder.”

Gonzaga’s story was a Cinderella story on repeat, with Sweet 16 runs in 2000 and 2001. But Cinderellas can’t keep that status for long, and Gonzaga’s consistent tournament appearances -- 19 straight trips since ‘98 -- and powerhouse upsets made it clear that the school was looking for a berth among the great collegiate basketball giants in the country.

Reaching the Final Four, the final stage, has long been a goal. But, season after season began with unbridled potential and ended in heartbreak. Until now.

 

Creating a team culture

Over the years, Mark Few focused on building the chemistry, cohesiveness and camaraderie of his team. That philosophy has not only created a great team culture, but the stats back up the mindset: Throughout games played in the 2016-7 season, Gonzaga has waged an unprecedented, balanced attack. Seven different players have been the leading scorer; four players currently average double digit points per game; and three more are not far behind.

But what does that chemistry look like off the court, in a team loaded with transfers and freshmen? “We’ve had a lot of teams that were close, but the way this team came together, has functioned together so quickly, is impressive,” Few noted earlier this season. The team retreat last September seemed to help them coalesce, which may in part have to do with the fact that in addition to team-building activities, each player also wrote their personal leadership philosophy.

Not long after the retreat, Zach Collins, one of the most highly prized recruits in Gonzaga’s history, tweeted, “My leadership philosophy is disregarding my own well being for the well being of my teammates, family members and friends.” It’s clear that he and his team have followed that vision.

The Zag culture centered around chemistry and camaraderie doesn’t stop at the players; in fact, it comes as a natural extension of the coaching staff. At Gonzaga, “you have a group of coaches that know and accept each other’s roles,” according to assistant Ken Bone. “There are different roles that need to be played, whether it’s on the practice court, or in a timeout, or in recruiting. They support each other. You can see the respect they have for each other. It’s really critical.”

Takeaway for founders: Culture
Whether big or small, what ultimately brings winning teams to the top is how they play the game, and culture is the driving force. Though talent is no doubt valuable, fit shapes the dynamics of success. A cohesive culture flows from the top down, so the chemistry among your leadership team is key.

 

Investing in each player’s personal development

Another pillar of the Gonzaga basketball program is evident from the number of redshirts. In a period of college basketball where many players view their time in the NCAA as a brief way station between high school and the professional game, the Zags have a tradition of players intentionally prolonging their careers because of their focus on player development. In fact, eleven of the 17 players on the roster have redshirted during their time at GU - a very high percentage compared to other top teams in the country.

For a transfer like Nigel Williams-Goss, the NCAA mandates players sit out a season before playing, but the last thing he did during that time was spent twiddling thumbs. “That was one of the biggest reasons why I came here; the plan that they had in place for me,” Williams-Goss said. “It was already mapped out when I came on my visit as far as what we were going to do, things we were going to work on.”

Redshirting at Gonzaga is not limited to the transfers; recruits fresh to the scene also step back to develop their game, with notable example Kelly Olynyk coming back from his first disappointing season to become one of the team’s leading players, earning all-American honors from four organizations and becoming a lottery pick in the NBA draft in 2013.

According to assistant coach Tommy Lloyd, “What’s made [redshirting] work is we have a culture of ownership and responsibility. Those guys know they’re redshirting for a reason, and I always tell them the redshirt needs to be your ‘because’ year. Because you redshirted, you were able to do this, this and that. It’s not a wasted year.”

Takeaway for founders: Invest in people
Invest in the personal development of your team members. Giving them opportunities to step away from the day to day grind will not only help them develop their skillset, it will inspire them to allow the unique experience and assets they bring to the table help you grow.

A little school in Spokane demonstrated that Davids can run with giants, and founders of companies of every stage and size are no different. The slingshot? A cohesive culture and investment in people. Creating a culture that emphasizes personal responsibility, camaraderie among teammates, and fit; paired with leaders that invest in the personal growth of the people beside them, is the secret weapon that little (or not so little) guys can use to compete with the Goliaths of the world.

When the Zags step onto the court in Phoenix this Saturday, they will no longer be an overrated West Coast Conference team: they’ll be a national powerhouse with a 36-1 record. This one-time Cinderella still has a story to finish.

Written by: Nicole Heger, Director of Marketing and Gonzaga '11