H&R Block President and CEO Jeff Jones was a catcher on the baseball team at Fork Union Military Academy and then went on to the University of Dayton, but the sport he learned his most valuable leadership lesson from was basketball. This fact will seem less surprising when you realize he learned the lesson while watching Mike Krzyzewski coach a Duke Basketball practice.
“If you were to watch a typical basketball team practice,” he began, “and you asked the crowd to share which noise you hear most in a basketball gym, they would likely guess squeaking sneakers, right? But if you watch a Duke basketball practice, what you hear above all else are people talking.”
They’re “chattering” while they practice—alerting, suggesting, urging, congratulating, correcting … offering a “what if?” They are active in communication at practice because that is important to Coach K. An excellent student and athlete, Jeff took this important communication lesson—you only come together as a team if you’re talking to one another— to heart and gave it his own twist at H&R Block.
“At the beginning of all of our leadership team meetings, every single person checks in,” Jeff shared in this episode. “They say whatever they’re feeling that they’re bringing to that meeting that day. For example, I recall one colleague saying, ‘Man, I’m really excited to be here today. We have a great agenda.’ Colleague two said, ‘You know what, I’m exhausted right now, and I wish we weren’t having this meeting.’ I raised my hand and said, ‘I’m putting my dad in assisted living, and emotionally I’m not here today. So give me some grace if it seems like I’m checked out.'”
At the end of each meeting, everyone checks out, usually by responding to a prompt or question such as “What inspired you about today’s session?” or “What are you worrying about as we leave here today?” And each team member offers a candid reply. More often than not, the team leaves the meeting feeling aligned.
Jeff reported that when he took the job at H&R Block, he’d never done his own taxes, but boy, can he lead those who do!
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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