Undergraduate / Varsity basketball team (responding to a problem) - UBC SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS [2]

Question: Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience? (maximum 1500 characters)

Some athletes get awarded MVP, others make the game-winning basket; I've got a gold medal in sabotaging my own teammates. As captain of our varsity basketball team, I've had my fair share of airballs, both on and off court. This year, we had two grade nines join our team, both of whom had difficulty learning the plays. During one practice, they kept running the wrong routes: dribble, misstep, turnover. A couple of those in a game, and we'd be down by 20. As our season opener loomed closer, my instincts took over, and I corrected every wrong move like I was filming a how-to basketball video. I thought I was fixing the issue, but instead, I watched one of the girls cross her arms and mutter, "We get it." Translation: You're embarrassing us. In trying to fix the problem, I'd inadvertently put a spotlight on their struggle. Way to go captain, really crushing it. No, literally, crushing self-esteem. After practice, I apologized privately to them and organized a session where we ran through each play in a one-on-one setting. This time, I focused on building their confidence instead of just correcting their mistakes. Rather than "fixing," I focused on facilitating their progress. Just like that, we won our first game 56 to 41. Since then, I've reframed how I approach challenges as a leader in any setting. Leadership isn't about controlling the game; it's about empowering your team to play it better. And sometimes, that means sitting on the sidelines and letting them take the shot.