Hoosiers: A Basketball Movie About Decision Making
Last night a friend sent me a photo of a man wearing a t-shirt that featured a jab at the Purdue Boilermakers. As a graduate of Indiana University, I’m required to find this shirt funny. But it also gave me the pop culture inspiration for this article, so thank you Bret Pogemiller!
In a previous life, I would receive summaries of the annual talent review conversations. Every time “decision making” was shown as a gap for leaders. The context was that leaders couldn’t make timely decisions, using the information available at the time, and feel confident in their decision. This is a problem. Not only because well-informed decisions are a critical skill for leaders, but because it illustrates that somewhere along the way we have failed to create decision makers!
How can leaders and organizations fill this gap? The answer does not lie in the purchase of a decision-making framework or assign online learning. The key? Coaching. Due to the recent passing of screen legend Gene Hackman, I recently rewatched the movie Hoosiers. A movie about a coach building a team- on and off the court.
True leaders do not provide all the answers. They foster an environment where team members feel equipped and supported to find their own. Leaders who leverage a coaching approach can help their teams develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills that lead to better outcomes for individuals and the organization.
Coaching Strategies for Building Decision Makers
Ask, Don’t Tell, to Set Clear Standards and Expectations
Great coaches prioritize thoughtful questions over giving directives. At the same time, these questions establish expectations. Encourage your team to think through challenges by posing questions like:
"What options do you see?" sets the expectation to explore more than one solution.
"What are the potential risks and rewards of this approach?" sets the expectation that outcomes and impacts should be reviewed proactively.
“What data will you gather for this decision?” sets the expectation that data-based decisions are preferred.
Foster Confidence Through Fundamentals
Decision-making requires courage. And courage is built through experience. Coach Norman Dale positively oozes confidence and at the same time he gains the trust of his players- even if they don’t initially understand his ‘pass the ball five times’ rule. As a leader, build your team’s confidence by celebrating their successes and reinforcing the value of learning from mistakes.
Encourage Ownership & Empower Individuals
Delegate decision-making responsibilities progressively. Start with smaller decisions and gradually expand their scope, helping team members take ownership of outcomes while feeling supported. You will need to borrow Coach Dale’s playbook here and recognize the unique strengths of each player. Leaders should identify and nurture the talents of their team members, providing opportunities for development.
Build a Strong Team Culture
Demonstrate effective decision-making in your leadership style. Leverage transparency to share more about your thought process (ok, admittedly this was something we did not see done consistently from our Hickory coach). This is a powerful learning opportunity that will also create a more collaborative system.
When leaders focus on coaching rather than controlling, the benefits extend far beyond individual development. Teams become more agile, trust is cultivated, and decision-making becomes a collaborative effort rather than a burden on a single person. The ripple effect is a stronger, more resilient organization where innovation and growth flourish.
Building better decision makers is not just an investment in your team, it is an investment in the future of your organization. And it might be the only way Ollie nails that free throw.
