What Basketball Officiating Teaches Us About Leading Work
By Stan Majowski
I have spent nearly twenty five years managing IT projects and more than forty years involved in basketball in one way or another. Over time, the similarities between these two parts of my life became impossible to ignore. Whether I am working with a development team or officiating a close high school game, the same principles keep showing up. Structure, communication, preparation, judgement, and respect for the people involved drive both environments.
This article explains how the foundations of project management appear naturally in the rhythm of a basketball game. Basketball is my example, but the ideas have relevance across many sports where teams compete, decisions matter, and the environment can shift quickly.
A Basketball Game Functions Like a Project
A project begins with a clear start, ends with a defined finish, and uses resources to reach a goal. A basketball game operates exactly the same way.
The opening tip is the kickoff. The final buzzer is closure. In between are coaches, players, officials, scorekeepers, timers, and the people in the stands who contribute energy and pressure. Every group plays a role in the success of the event. Seeing the structure of the game through a project management lens encourages you to think ahead, anticipate challenges, and recognize that the environment you build can influence outcomes.
The Referee as Project Manager
People often see referees as rule enforcers. In practice, the role resembles project management far more than it resembles policing.
The referee provides structure so the game can unfold as intended. Play cannot start until the official initiates it. That is not about authority for its own sake. It is about ensuring readiness, clarity, and fairness for everyone involved. In the same way, a project does not begin until the manager confirms scope, establishes roles, and sets expectations.
Good officiating also depends on knowing when not to intervene. The best games I work are the ones where the play flows naturally. When players respect each other and recognize the expectations, the whistle becomes less important. The same principle applies to leading a project team. There are times when the team needs space to work and times when leadership needs to step in. Judgement is the skill that determines the difference.
Both roles require calm reactions under pressure, clear decisions in real time, and the ability to manage conflict without fuelling it.
Communication as the Connecting Piece
Whether on the court or in a project, communication shapes the entire experience. How you approach it can either smooth the path or create friction.
On the court, the head coach acts as the primary stakeholder. The conversations are brief, clear, and purposeful. The goal is alignment, not debate. In project work, the relationship with a business sponsor functions the same way. You identify who is accountable, communicate consistently, and address issues respectfully.
Players mirror project team members in the best sense. They want direction, clarity, and fairness. When they understand expectations and see consistency, their focus stays on doing their job well. Respecting their effort and supporting their success is central to both roles.
Fans are an important part of the environment. They care about the outcome and invest emotionally. Their passion brings energy to the game, just as end users bring energy and anticipation to a new solution. They may not have the full picture of every decision, but their reaction tells you a lot about experience and impact. Acknowledging that perspective, without getting pulled into the noise, is part of maintaining balance.
Your officiating partner is the closest equivalent to a trusted project colleague. You prepare together before the work begins, stay aligned while it is underway, and debrief afterward. The table crew also plays a critical role. They manage timing, scoring, and specific technical responsibilities. They are the operational support that keeps everything running smoothly. Each group values clarity, accuracy, and professionalism.
Managing Risk in Real Time
Risk management shows up in every game. Officials conduct a pregame meeting where we discuss likely scenarios, identify areas of concern, and agree on how we will respond when situations arise. That is no different from risk planning in project initiation.
We talk through:
- Communication expectations
- How we will handle fast or physical play
- How we will split responsibilities
- How we will approach the final minutes when pressure peaks
The parallels to project work are obvious. You prepare in advance, not because you can predict everything, but because preparation gives you a better chance of navigating uncertainty when it arrives.
The last two minutes of a close game mirror the implementation phase of a project. Focus, communication, and discipline matter most when the outcome is on the line.
Growth, Experience, and Perspective
I began officiating young, stepped away, and returned years later with more patience, more perspective, and better emotional control. That same evolution happens in project management. When you are early in your career, you may rely heavily on knowledge and process. With experience, you learn that judgement and composure are just as important.
The two disciplines have fed each other for me. Basketball has reinforced the importance of staying calm when the pressure rises. Project management has helped me communicate more effectively on the court. Both require the ability to manage people respectfully and respond thoughtfully when things do not go as planned.
Closing Thoughts
Basketball is the example I know best, but the lessons apply across many sports. Anytime people bring passion, competition, collaboration, and time constraints together, you will see the same principles at work.
If you would like to connect and talk more about this topic, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn. And if your organization is looking for experienced project leadership, Paradigm Consulting Group is always open to supporting new clients.