LEADERSHIP Lessons Learned from Ball Hogs

I am 35 years old and I have been playing on organized teams since I was 6. I remember most teams really well, especially from 5th grade on. I played on some great teams over that 29 year span-some only lost as many as 1 game a season, other times we lost more than we won. On each team there were teammates/players that were looked upon as great team players, and on every team there were BALL HOGS. I have been friends with every teammate I ever had, on every team I have ever played-yes, even the ball hogs. Some are still great friends today. This is not just limited to sports-this spans teams I've been on from classes, councils, projects, community & church related teams, and all team environments I've found myself on over the past 29 years. I will admit right off the bat, on some of those teams- I WAS THE BALL HOG. You can learn a lot about leadership from a BALL HOG.
Here are some characteristics and observations of BALL HOGS (below you will find how you can learn from them):

• BALL HOGS are the teammates that feel like they have to make every play, decision-bad or good, call the shots (even if a coach is in play).
• Simply put-playing with ball hogs is not real fun.
• Most ball hogs are despised by some portion of the team.
• BALL HOGS sometimes carry a persona that they are the best one on the team-sometimes when they make the assumption, more often than not(at least my experiences)they make it with an ego trip attached.
• BALL HOGS are territorial, & want the ball in their hands all the time.
• When new teammates come to the team, they are normally threatened-this is out of fear of not being the MAN(or WOMAN)-85% of the time.
• BALL HOGS also scoff at the idea that someone else could or may challenge them for ideas, talent, ability, and betterment of the team.
• Some BALL HOGS are unaware they are actually BALL HOGS.
• BALL HOGS can limit the growth of others.
• BALL HOGS are selfish, and lack team mentality.
• Under pressure BALL HOGS can lose control and get sloppy.
• No one likes a ball hog!

LEADERSHIP LESSONS LEARNED:

• Getting team involves is way more fun and even more special if the team is victorious!
• Sometimes fresh teammates will push the team to new heights.
• Ball Hogs can learn how to play team ball from teammates.
• The best teammates are the ones who know when another teammate needs an opportunity to get in the game.
• If a BALL HOG ever challenges a coach publicly or privately, the coach should remove them from the team, or find a place where they can learn to play with others-which is normally back on the playground.
• BALL HOGS need leadership fed into them as much as the rest of us do!
• BALL HOGS need to remember there will always be younger, fresher, and different ideas/thoughts/people, and game plans that will shift paradigms.
• When the ball is someone else's hand it is important to be an encouragement.
• When the game/decision/plan is all on the line, the team approach is better than the "I" or "ME" approach.
• TEAMS when games, not BALL HOGS- even the greatest team champions had help-just ask MJ.

So, look at the teams you are currently on. Can you identify the BALL HOGS? Maybe they can identify you. This is for sure-ball hog or not-teams have a better chance of winning or succeeding than a single all star who takes on everything.

Here is the ACTION PLAN for you: Look at the teams you are on. Do you need to step up, pass, take a shot, bring in a sub to give you a rest, tell the coach you need to learn, or ask for a trade from the current team you are on?

Take it from a former BALL HOG- what ever you need to do-there is always teams looking for help, and there are always a short supply of great help needed.

The most important thing you can take away from BALL HOGS- they want to be in the game, and they want the ball in their hands. So should YOU!