Lessons From The Golden State Warriors On How To Create Success
It was the spring of 07. The Bay was buzzing. There was an electric feel as if Christmas had arrived in May and everybody was rich in…
It was the spring of 07. The Bay was buzzing. There was an electric feel as if Christmas had arrived in May and everybody was rich in anticipation.
They were up against titans, but we believed.
Then it happened.
The last seeded Warriors had defeated the first seeded Mavericks in a 6 game series.
Then they fell into mediocrity for what seemed to be an eternity, but in the last year, managed to scrape up one of the best championship runs in basketball history.
They’re on pace to break records and perhaps win another championship and it all came from humble beginnings.
In many ways, the GSW (Golden State Warriors) closely resembles startups. They were the underdogs, the new kid on the block, scrappy and resourceful. And understanding the dynamics that went behind the transformation can help startups fight their way to the top.
Culture Over Competency
One of the biggest changes they had to make was trading away Monta Ellis, one of the key players that helped them beat the Mavericks back in 07. The Warriors were looking to change their style of play and sadly Monta didn’t fit into the picture very well.
But while the players acquired from the trade were less talented, they fit into the new style of play and helped boost the record by 20 wins.
Now when the Warriors play, everything is fluid. It looks like they can read each other’s minds out there on the floor. Half of it is preparation, half of it is great chemistry. And as much as talent plays a factor in creating a great team, chemistry is oftentimes the point that tips the scale.
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Sometimes the best hire for your team isn’t the best hire for your team. It is important to screen for a match on core values to ensure the hire not only stays but thrives as well. In an environment where core values match, team members will feed off of each other’s talent and energy, each pushing the next to succeed.
I’ve also found it to be the source of unselfishness and having team members whom you see eye-to-eye with can go a long way in making projects work.
Numbers Don’t Lie
They didn’t believe.
You can’t win a championship with a jump shooting team they said.
You can’t run the floor and still play defense they said.
That’s what was said, but that’s what they did. The numbers worked out, so why not?
The GSW were unusual in many ways, they benched their starting center for the entire finals series, they essentially turned a former All-Star into a benchwarmer, and they introduced the stretch-4 (a big guy that shoots threes) as a permanent fixture into their lineup.
A lot of the things they did had statisticians and analysts scratching their heads because it wasn’t supposed to work. But it did, and at the end of the day that’s how you rack up Ws.
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They worked because they allowed the Warriors to play to their strengths and at times, completely ignore their weaknesses. However, this isn’t an entirely foreign concept in the business world.
For example, one of Apple’s strongest assets is its brand. People will buy the new iPhone, rain or shine, standing in line. Because of this Apple can afford to jack up the prices of their hardware to obscene amounts and and still blow other handset makers out the water in terms of profitability.
On the other hand, Android’s strength lies in the fact that Google levies no licensing fee on the Android operating system. This allows Android phones to come out at a lower cost. There is no way Google can compete with the Apple brand and release a $600 phone, but what they can do is capture market share through offering a cheaper alternative and so that’s what they stick to.
What Got You Here Won’t Take You There
Mark Jackson was one of the radical changes that brought the GSW back to national attention. Having only made the playoffs once in the past 17 years, the GSW were yearning for another chance at taking it all. Under his coaching, the GSW were able to make consecutive playoff runs.
But it was not enough.
He had helped develop the players and create a culture of winning, but it was clear, he had taken them as far as he could.
He was replaced by Steve Kerr, a rookie coach who had studied under one of the greatest basketball coaches in NBA history. And in his first year? Took them on one of the most impressive championship runs ever.
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In real world situations, it can be easy to fall back on “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but there is always room for improvement. What worked for you at 4 team members probably won’t work for you once you’ve hit 100.
Sometimes more radical changes are necessary to reach the next level. For example, it was only when Elon Musk decided to completely revamp X.com (online bank) into PayPal when it exploded. Like the Warriors, they had made key fundamental changes in the infrastructure, and was still able to utilize some of the components of what was left over before to create an even better product.
For the Warriors, it was defensive philosophies and capabilities. For PayPal, it was innovative method of securely transferring money online through the recipients’ email address, which Musk had developed himself.
Putting It All Together
The change in ownership was the best move for the Warriors. Under the new ownership, they were able to craft a strong identity and fill in the pieces as they fit. It cannot be stressed how important the culture and management team is to the success of the company.
First, because without a clear vision and culture, it will be difficult to piece together a winning team. Having team members whose core values align is critical for trust and helps facilitate an environment where they are able to grow.
Having a clear vision also allows you to move away from the old habits that used to work but now hinders your growth. With a clear idea of where you want to go, you can easily judge which systems are failing and the steps necessary to resolve it.
Then to put it in action, practicality is the engine behind success. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Testing out new, innovative ideas is a great way to figuring out the best setup for your company because what works for someone else might not work for you.