The question that shaped my life's work

I've heard it said that we often devote our lives to helping others overcome the very things we've had to learn to navigate ourselves.

For me, that journey may have begun in 1992. That year, I was a member of the Canadian Men's National Basketball Team competing at the Tournament of the Americas Olympic Qualifier. The top four teams would earn a spot in the Olympic Games later that summer in Barcelona.

For the first time in history, professional athletes were allowed to compete in the Olympics. Canada assembled what was arguably the strongest team in its history, including three NBA players. The United States assembled the now legendary Dream Team featuring Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and others. We even had the opportunity to play against them - a story for another time.

On paper, we looked impressive. In our fourth and final qualification game, we faced Venezuela. Win and we were going to the Olympics. Lose and our Olympic dream was over. 

Venezuela had one NBA player. The rest of the roster was largely unknown to us, including a 38-year-old point guard. And yet, from the opening tip, something felt different. They played with a level of passion, commitment, and togetherness that I still remember more than thirty years later. Every loose ball mattered. Every possession mattered. Every player seemed willing to sacrifice for the team.

We lost by two points. 

To this day, I can't say with certainty why. Sports are complex. Outcomes are influenced by countless factors. To suggest there was one reason would be overly simplistic. What I do know is that loss stayed with me. Years later, I found myself returning to the same question: What allows a group of talented people to come together and create something extraordinary? That question followed me into my time as a professional athlete, into my work leading teams and as a coach, and into countless conversations with leaders and teams across a wide range of organizations. 

Over time, I've become less interested in talent and more interested in what happens between talented people. Trust. Alignment. Shared commitment. Accountability. The willingness to say what needs to be said.

I've come to believe that the greatest opportunities for performance improvement are often hidden in conversations that haven't happened yet. Maybe that's why the work Dom and I do today is centered on a simple idea: Helping leaders and teams have the conversations they've been avoiding.

Looking back, I don't know exactly why we lost that game. But I do know it sparked a question that has shaped much of my life's work. And if I'm honest, I'm still exploring it today.

P.S. I'm standing behind the blond point guard. And yes, I had a full head of hair back then. Some things change.