Basketball Challenge, Overcoming Bias to Self-Interest (Self-Serving Bias)

Coach Popovich says, "get over yourself." But it's not a given. Examples:

• Put ourselves ahead of our team
• Put ourselves ahead of our staff
• Put ourselves ahead of our families

How much self-indulgence is enough? It's not always straightforward. Teams have multiple 'alphas' for whom shared leadership may not work (e.g. Durant, Irving, Harden). The Cal Rugby team led by Jack Clark emphasizes the opposite, that everyone has leadership responsibilities. 

Self-indulgent basketball actions:

• "My turn" shots
• Standing around (energy saving)
• Low effort defense
• No help defense
• "Me basketball" such as players who won't pass on the pick-and-roll. 

From Maxim Dsouza

Ron Howard says, "the director is the keeper of the story." Advance the interest of the team. Success has many fathers. 

How do we overcome self-serving bias? 

• Model leadership. What kind of leader do I want to be? 
• Focus on sharing credit. 
• Derive lessons from failure. 
• Take more time to analyze outcomes. 

Coaching is a sharing profession. Asking "what could I have done differently" or "what would my mentor have done" isn't weakness but maturity. Shifting blame protects our ego but doesn't help us improve. 

As teams advance or lose in the playoffs, observe the response of players and coaches. Some will exhibit sportsmanship, others sour grapes. 

Lagniappe. "Player development 'moment' on faster shot release" - preparation, connection, sequence... worth the watch

Lagniappe 2. Multi-option SLOB with 2 chances at layups