Crafting the Art of Resilient Leadership

When do you step up to lead

In times of crisis or hardship, leadership becomes more important than ever. It’s easy to be a leader when everything is going smoothly, but it takes a special kind of person to step up during tough times or in the face of adversity.  Whether you’re leading a basketball team, a company, or a community, here are a few tips to help you become a better leader during difficult times.

When the fight is toughest…the leader takes the hits.

Leadership is not an easy task. During periods of adversity, the leader often takes the hits, both literally and figuratively. This is because the leader is mostly responsible for the success or failure of the team or organization. The leader often has to take ownership and accountability to bear the brunt of scrutiny when things go wrong. However, a good leader understands that taking the hits is part of the job and uses it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and lead the others towards success.

When there are problems…the leader seeks to find solutions.

When things are toughest, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and focus on everything that is going wrong. This is often when we let your emotions take over. But as a leader, it’s your job to keep a level head, make rational decisions, and find solutions. Take a step back, assess the situation, and come up with action items that address the immediate challenges. Be transparent about what’s going on and make sure everyone knows how they can contribute toward the solution.

When there’s doubt or uncertainty …the leader instills confidence.

The best leaders play a crucial role in instilling confidence in others, especially when there is doubt or uncertainty. They can provide guidance and support to those around them or to their teammates. By communicating openly with their teammates and leading by example, they also empower others to take ownership. Building a positive and supportive environment, leaders can help their teammates to feel more confident and capable, even in challenging situations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What skills do college basketball coaches value most?

Translatable skills like shooting, defensive positioning and basketball IQ tend to matter more than flashy individual plays, alongside decision-making under pressure and genuine coachability.

Is it too early to think about recruiting for a middle school player?

For actual recruiting activity, yes. But the habits that matter later, coachability, defensive effort and genuine skill development, are worth building now without introducing recruiting pressure prematurely.

Do college coaches check with a player's current or former coaches?

Yes, routinely. How a player has handled adversity, criticism and team dynamics genuinely factors into recruiting evaluations, which is part of why character and coachability matter so much.

Should young players focus on defense if it's less exciting than scoring?

Yes. Defensive effort and positioning are consistently cited as highly translatable to higher levels of play, partly because they depend on effort and discipline rather than purely physical gifts.

How do recent NCAA eligibility changes affect youth basketball families?

They generally support patience over urgency in recruiting timelines, meaning there’s less reason to rush a young player toward exposure-focused activity before they’re developmentally ready.

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