[August 9, 2016] Practice makes you strong and competition makes you stronger. My wife and I watched the U.S. Women’s Volleyball Olympic team comeback performance to beat the Netherland’s team 3-2 in five games. Wow, exciting game. But what is it that makes this – or any sporting game – of interest to those of us who study leadership?
Like any sport, individual team members are actively part of a cohesive team and have worked together for some period of time. Those ladies should be congratulated on their resolve, hard work, and never-give-up attitude. That’s what makes them tremendous athletes and they never gave up in their come-from-behind victory. My respect goes out to them and their coaches.
Their head coach, Karch Kiraly, is the intellect behind the team and the glue that keeps it focused on winning. I’m no volleyball expert and in fact I simply have little interest in watching it; my wife asked me sit down to see the game on television because it was “good for me.” She knows best and yes it kept my attention the entire five games.
Coach Kiraly was a Gold Medalist in both indoor and beach volleyball and took home the first ever Gold in beach volleyball for the USA in 1996. His résumé includes three Olympic gold medals in volleyball. Occasionally the television would briefly scan to him while his team was playing the final few games. His expression was one of confidence and poise. It clearly affected his team and helped keep them from giving up.
The Netherlands’ team is no pushover. They surprisingly upset China on the first day by beating this No. 3 ranked team, also in five sets.1 The Dutch women got out to a great start with a convincing win in the first set. Teamwork, hard work, confidence in their abilities, and good coaching are what made these teams what they are today. The quarterfinals start Tuesday, August 16th and I’ll be watching.
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