Finding Value in Leadership Via a Meritocracy
I love sports. I think the aspect of competition I appreciate most is the idea of it being a meritocracy. In the end, talent and results matter. Frankly, that’s the way life should be.
A recent story was written about a 40-year-old veteran for the Miami Heat, an NBA basketball team, who’s being paid $2.5 million and plays almost no actual basketball on the court. Why in the world would an NBA team, driven by the idea of success, a for-profit business looking to make money, even consider that? Because it’s a meritocracy.
Udonis Haslam began his career in the NBA almost 20 years ago. I think even he would admit that he’s not the same player on the court he once was. But the Miami Heat organization, in particular the head coach of the team, said recently that Haslam is such an important part of that locker room, providing leadership and mentoring that can’t be found anywhere else but by those who have gone before. As a result, the Miami Heat have invested $2.5 million to make their youngest players, who are leading the push for a repeat trip to the NBA finals, to ensure that “no stone” is unturned as they pursue a championship. The entire organization sees the value of having an older, wiser, more experienced individual helping to mentor younger players as they become adults and better professionals.
In our world, the nonprofit one, I see so many times more senior gift officers retiring from an organization and leadership not doing much to try to retain that knowledge or experience, even part-time. What is the value of having a long-tenured, successful professional be around the office 10 to 15 hours a week to continue mentoring younger gift officers as well as maintaining relationships with long-standing donors? I would argue that it’s invaluable. But sometimes the “cost-cutting measures” that we run into in this industry don’t allow for that kind of thought. Maybe it’s time we think about the investment long-term and not short-term and keep around more experienced gift officers, even if it’s just a few hours a week. It might help all to be more successful. A true mentality of meritocracy.