Leadership lessons from pop culture
​The BIG Takeaway newsletter
Learning from the Juwan Howard punch
Turmoil at U. Michigan

​By Rich Trombetta
@trombettarich

While our newsletter is sent weekly, some stories can't wait - and this is one of those stories.
​
Michigan's men's basketball coach, Juwan Howard, threw a punch at an opposing coach on Sunday, Feb. 20.
  • He was suspended for the remainder of the regular season just hours ago .

What leaders can learn from this: YOU set the tone

  • Watch this clip and notice how players on both teams are upset yet are showing incredible restraint; some are even trying to separate the coaches.

  • At 16 seconds the punch is thrown.

  • From 16 seconds+ the situation explodes with fighting, punching and physically aggressive acts by the players.


THE BIG TAKEAWAY: 
  • Everyone looks to the leader for cues on how what is acceptable behavior.

  • Once Howard throws the punch the players are emboldened to act.

  • If you behave a certain way - good or bad - don't act surprised when your employees do the same. 

The unfortunate thing with all of this is that Juwan Howard appears to be a person who is well respected by his peers and players. Also, as CBS Sports notes, what was said in that scrum is not known. 

​Hopefully this is a learning moment for everyone.