March 2014. Anaheim, California. Big West Men’s Basketball Championship Game. Down 2 points. 20 seconds left. Ball in my hand with an urgent decision to make.

With CSUN’s defense hounding me, I dribbled into the lane and jump stopped. Now it was time to make a play. As the leading scorer and one of three senior captains, the logical choice would be to take the shot I had been training my entire life for.

As the kid growing up on Chicago’s south side, these were the moments I dreamed of repeatedly in my backyard. I couldn’t have asked for a bigger stage, a bigger opportunity, or a bigger life lesson at 22 years old.

Can you think of the best teammate or co-worker you’ve ever had? Hopefully some examples come to mind within a few seconds. While I’ve had extensive experience with both in my athletic and professional careers, I’ve found some common traits :

Moral of the story : If whoever you thought about shares these traits, congrats! You’ve been lucky enough to have had a great team player in your journey thus far. If not, hakuna matata - this week, we discuss the key principles that define a great teammate.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the great opportunity to speak with another former collegiate basketball player, Ashley Ljesevic, for her podcast, The Endurance Diaries. It was meaningful because her show is truly, as she puts it, "a space to share stories, spread encouragement and spark inspiration" by highlighting people persevering through life's hurdles.

Ashley brings together "elite athletes, business executives, thought-leaders and friends" for conversations explicitly designed to "challenge our minds and move our hearts." Beyond my own episode (which I hope you'll check out!), her entire catalog is stellar – full of guests sharing how they navigate their journeys.

It’s perfect if you're looking for motivation while commuting or working out. The whole vibe is about leaning in with curiosity and, as the podcast encourages, giving ourselves "permission to dream without limitations."

I definitely recommend adding it to your rotation!

Listen to our conversation here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MoEsmrfLGwna1ofr5eSGz?si=WC6GTDoAS-egkv7zYO_DCA

Find & Subscribe to The Endurance Diaries wherever you get your podcasts, or learn more here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/endurance-diaries-podcast/posts/?feedView=all

Remember that moment in the championship game? Down two, clock ticking, defense swarming. The expectation was clear: leading scorer takes the shot. But the right play? That requires teamwork.

Those traits we talked about in great teammates? Communication, Role Clarity, Trust, Shared Goals? They aren't accidental. They're built on principles. Principles honed in high-stakes arenas, like sports.

Let's break down the Key 3 anatomy of truly effective teamwork.

Key 1: Clear Communication (The Team’s Lifeline)

Think about defense in basketball. It’s constant, clear, concise communication. Calling out screens, directing rotations, confirming switches. Silence leads to breakdowns and easy baskets.

The best teams talk non-stop. It builds cohesion and prevents errors. We ran a matchup zone - which is one of the most complicated defenses you can play. We don’t end up in that championship game without annoyingly simple over-communication.

How does this translate off the court? It's the lifeblood of any successful project or team. Clear project briefs, defined expectations. Regular status updates, honest feedback loops.

Active listening, not just waiting to speak. Ensuring everyone understands the "play." Poor communication leads to mistakes, missed deadlines, and frustration.

Actionable Tip: Over-Communicate Clarity - Don't assume understanding. Confirm alignment often. Ask for clarity and confirmation at every step of a project timeline.

Use multiple channels if needed. Make communication purposeful and consistent. It’s the foundation upon which trust is built.

Key 2: Defined Roles & Trust (Know Your Job, Trust Your Teammates)

On a team, everyone has a role. Point guard distributes, center protects the paint. A shooter needs to shoot when open. A defender needs to lock down their assignment.

Trying to do someone else's job leads to chaos. Excelling in your role serves the team best. This requires trusting teammates implicitly. Trusting the shooter will shoot, the defender will rotate.

In that championship moment, I trusted Ridge – an 18-year-old freshman from Frisco, Texas – with the biggest shot in school history. It wasn't about fear; it was about the best play. While I had a good look, Ridge had a great one because he was more open.

In the workplace, role clarity is just as vital. Do team members know their specific responsibilities? Do they understand how their role contributes to the larger team or project goal?

And crucially, do they trust their colleagues to handle their respective roles effectively?Micromanagement signals a lack of trust. So does constantly stepping outside your lane.

Actionable Tip: Define & Delegate : Ensure roles are clearly defined for projects. Delegate tasks based on strengths and roles. Then trust your team members to execute. Build trust through your own reliability, and by recognizing the expertise of others.

If someone is a better “shooter” than you, trust them to hit that shot. If someone is better at presentations and public speaking than you, trust them to deliver when the time comes.

Key 3: Shared Goals & Sacrifice (Playing for the Front of the Jersey)

What unites any great team? A powerful, clearly understood shared goal. Winning the championship. Landing the client. Launching the product successfully.

This shared objective transcends individual stats or glory. It requires prioritizing the team's success. Sometimes that means making the extra pass instead of taking a contested shot yourself.

It means sacrificing personal recognition for the team win. In business, this looks like cross-functional teams collaborating towards a project goal, not just departmental KPIs.

It's helping a colleague meet their deadline because it impacts the team's overall success. It’s sharing credit generously. It's putting the collective "win" first. This requires a degree of sacrifice – setting aside ego for the greater good.

Actionable Tip: Reinforce the "Why" : Constantly connect daily tasks back to the shared goal. Celebrate team successes publicly. Recognize and reward "assist" behaviors, not just solo stats.

Foster a culture where the team win is the most important win. No one was “uncheckable" in our locker room. Seniors and freshmen were on even footing when accountability was the focus.

Post-Game Recap : The Winning Play

So, what exactly happened in those final seconds of the championship game? Find out here.

That single moment, that "life lesson," wasn't just about the pass; it was the result of everything we built: The Communication to read the defense, the Trust in a teammate's role, and prioritizing the Shared Goal over the individual shot.

Those Key 3 principles turn high-pressure moments into opportunities for team success. Apply them consistently, and you'll build teams capable of making the winning play when it matters most.

Hope these insights on the fundamentals of teamwork help you elevate your own team's performance, whether you're leading or contributing!

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