Just write someone else golden side in basketball as national coach of Spain, a group he has been leading since 2009. Sergio Scariolo (Brescia, Italy, 1961) adds another victory to his resume, that of European champion after beating France (88-76) last Sunday, a title he already won in 2009, 2011 and 2015, in addition to being world champion in 2019 , Olympic champion in London 2012 and bronze in Rio 2016. And that with different teams, with big stars, including names like Pau and Marc Gasol, Ricky Rubio, José Manuel Calderón, Sergio Llull, Felipe Reyes or Rudy Fernandez.
Proud of La Familia – as they are called – with the medal around their neck and in their dressing room, Scariolo addressed everyone, the players and members of the technical team, thanking them for the culmination of a journey in which the majority, with the exception of the brothers Juancho and Willy Hernangómez and Rudy Fernández, Premiere in competitionand summed it up like this: “Fantastic job done, no nonsense, having a good time, working, with some things that worked and others that didn’t work, but nothing happened”.
In another of his interventions after they qualified for the final in Berlin, the coach had words for the big stars he has ushered onto the pitch. “It comes from behind, it comes from the windows and it comes from Benahavís, from the effort when we started building this team,” he explained, going back to 2017 when the basketball association assembled a group of players that made up I would nurse in the windows which would create the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). For this purpose, Spain focused on this city in Malaga for two weeks. And he added: “I represent a lot of people who helped build this team, even the players who are no longer here have taught those who are arriving the language of how to win.”
His leadership, his ability to take diverse teams to the top, from veteran stars even in the biggest galaxy like the NBA, and from newcomers, is something extraordinary. “It’s not common, because it’s normal for a leader not to be able to cope with two situations that are so different in each type of company,” he says. Jon SegoviaProfessor of Leadership and Change Management at Deusto Business School, highlighting a first stage with a team full of stars and talent, and a second floor quite different, in which you have to handle two concepts like talent and attitude. “The initial capacity wasn’t as well developed with the previous team, which consisted of surnames like Reyes or Gasol, now that they have to work more with a group of younger people who want things to go faster,” he adds added Segovia. , for which the starting point of every leader must be know well what you have analyze and use. “The team wasn’t as brilliant on offense as they were on defense and they developed a tactic based on their strengths that shows they are a good strategist.” Knowing how to team up and that one plus one equals three. “Getting the potential out of that sum is key.”
He agrees with the idea that the coach applied the leadership that sports psychologist Teresa Álvarez needed at all times: “He was democratic, with consensus decisions, but he was also authoritarian with the characters starting at the same time he left it, when everything worked. This kind of versatile leadership It is ideal for any organization as it allows you to lead one way or another depending on the wind blowing.
Another trait noted by this expert is the attained ability for cohesion and communication. “But to direct, to lead, to bring out the potential of each team member, that’s something that’s learned, like knowing how to give everyone their space, even if the younger ones need a little more directing,” he adds.
Because giving each player or professional their leadership role is the key to achieving goals and success. In this sense, Álvarez refers to a term used in psychology that internal place of control, “that is knowing how to control what depends on everyone”. A good leader must know that he cannot control everything, that he must be aware of what depends on himself and not on other external factors. And he recalls an incident with the referee during the final, to which he did not attach any importance “despite the fact that it was a big mistake because it was important to go on”.
The psychological component belongs to a leader’s caste. It also cares Margaret MayPhD in Psychology and Economics and Professor of Leadership at IE University: “As a manager you have to know your team very well and be a kind of coach, because managing consolidated stars with egos is not the same as managing a new group that is becoming more diverse needs to focus on the task at hand, but at the same time is more generous and works more as a team”.
Because when you lead groups with a lot of experience, you end up realizing that many of their members are not entirely satisfied, that there is a negative expectation gap. In this phase, a leader must divert his attention and devote much more energy to dealing with egos. “While this new team is delighted by less experienced players, they are all more generous and exceed their expectations, allowing Scariolo to focus his full attention on basketball,” Mayo continues.
This photo, taken in the business world, the teacher emphasizes, implies a change of roles, because of the resistance that is always present to change. Therefore, the first phase consists of unlearning, in end grudges, in which individual interests are parked in favor of teamwork. “Without claims, it’s much easier for Scariolo to manage this new group of players.”
It also involves team management innovation. “It has implications because stars have a harder time innovating because they don’t like to take risks. On the other hand, with this group they could do new things, if something didn’t work, they tried other ways. This is called creating a mentally safe environmentwhere mistakes are allowed without jeopardizing self-esteem,” explains Mayo.
Error management also plays an important role. “It’s important to let people make mistakes, more freedom makes people grow,” explains Segovia, who also wants to highlight the respect Scariolo has for the stars and the rest of the team. “Long service counts, and that’s not taken into account in companies where veterans are often overlooked because they usually contribute to group cohesion.” It makes room for newcomers and makes veterans feel like big brothers. And the maxim is: respect without a shadow.
Rules for learning to be a leader
Variables. Psychology is important. And leadership can be learned. That’s what sports psychologist Teresa Álvarez believes, who believes it’s important to use different strategies to both manage autonomy and motivate each player.
Know how to listen. In the beginning there should be a team and short, medium and long-term goals. Communication is also crucial. “It’s more important to listen than to say,” says the expert.
Lose your nerve. It is also considered in a guide. “We are humans, not machines, and emotions come out.” Knowing how to delegate is also part of a good leader’s handbook, “you can’t cover everything”.
promote effort. Another rule of thumb, especially in times of immediacy and quick success. “We have to promote this kind of values, effort, work, collaboration, it’s something essential to achieve the goals, at a time when speed is valued above all.”