Did you know that there are massive studies that exist analyzing basketball halftimes? Did you also know across thousands of NBA and NCAA games that were analyzed, the teams that leads at halftime have an 80% chance of winning the game? We probably didn't need thousands of games analyzed to make an educated guess on that statistic
Except...
There is one small anomaly in the research. Teams that trailed by one point at halftime won the game more often than teams that led by 2 points at halftime. In essence, trailing by just a little created focus and inspired effort that led to overcoming the halftime deficit.
I think that's were a lot of us find ourselves right now. We are in some vague halftime, trailing by just a little. Things aren't good, but we haven't given in and there's a second half to be played. Author, Margaret Atwood, called halftime the 'middle of the story.' 'The middle of a story isn't a story at all. It's only confusion...a wreckage of shattered glass and splintered wood'. That sounds pretty relatable if you ask me. I've sat in enough locker rooms at halftime to know exactly what she means.
There is extensive social science research on 'mid points' or 'halftimes' in all walks of life and that research shows a 'u-curve'. The u-curve means that artists, athletes, scientists, CEOs, pastors, and many others people from many other industries start strong (the top left of the curve), lull in the middle (the bottom middle of the curve), and finish with a burst (the top right of the curve). There is always a lull in the middle, at halftime.
In an actual athletic contest we can sense our lull and halftimes give us a built-in pause that it is time to put in a renewed effort as we go into the second half of the contest. What is challenging for all of us right now is that there's no scoreboard to clearly describe our situation and we aren't really sure if we are actually in halftime yet. We have been in a pause and our energy is likely to have lulled during the challenging first half.
BUT! It's now time to re-assess and take action. Here's a couple suggestions on how to pause at halftime and have a great re-start...
1 Remember the BIG, IMPORTANT things in your life and keep spending time on them. For many of us, we've been given an opportunity to spend time with family, exercising, communicating with extended family and friends, sit quietly, and many other things that are really important to our overall health. Work hard to hold on to these things!
2 Find a way to HELP OTHERS. For the foreseeable future, there will lots of people that need assistance in lots of ways. Put your 'help others' radar on and respond to the needs that you see that you can meet. It is amazing how much energy and enthusiasm is returned to those that find ways to help others.
3 Create a new connection with LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE. We have had time to connect with others outside of our network in unprecedented ways. I have developed brand new professional friendships with leaders around the country because of the now infamous Zoom meeting. These relationships have proven to be valuable sources of support and that won't change when we go back to our new normal.Keep creating connection with people that share your same passion and purpose.
4 FORGIVE YOURSELF for whatever you did not accomplish to this point. I think many of us saw the massive pause coming, the unexpected opportunities, and made big plans for this time. If you didn't see it coming, you likely pivoted quickly and began to make your plans. I also think many of us didn't do exactly what we expected to do. In some ways, this feels like failure and that feeling can stall us out even more. Forgive yourself, and make a fresh commitment to investing your time and energy in important things during this 'second half'.
5 Imagine what you want to be true at the conclusion (that you have control over) and START WORKING TOWARDS IT. I fiercely believe that whatever you do well right now will return exponentially when we go back to our new normal. That requires intense focus right where you are, right now. Too many teams begin their winning effort late in the 4th quarter and too often that is too late. Winning is reserved for those that take action in the present.
I think halftime is over, everyone. Let's win this thing in the second half.
Except...
There is one small anomaly in the research. Teams that trailed by one point at halftime won the game more often than teams that led by 2 points at halftime. In essence, trailing by just a little created focus and inspired effort that led to overcoming the halftime deficit.
I think that's were a lot of us find ourselves right now. We are in some vague halftime, trailing by just a little. Things aren't good, but we haven't given in and there's a second half to be played. Author, Margaret Atwood, called halftime the 'middle of the story.' 'The middle of a story isn't a story at all. It's only confusion...a wreckage of shattered glass and splintered wood'. That sounds pretty relatable if you ask me. I've sat in enough locker rooms at halftime to know exactly what she means.
There is extensive social science research on 'mid points' or 'halftimes' in all walks of life and that research shows a 'u-curve'. The u-curve means that artists, athletes, scientists, CEOs, pastors, and many others people from many other industries start strong (the top left of the curve), lull in the middle (the bottom middle of the curve), and finish with a burst (the top right of the curve). There is always a lull in the middle, at halftime.
In an actual athletic contest we can sense our lull and halftimes give us a built-in pause that it is time to put in a renewed effort as we go into the second half of the contest. What is challenging for all of us right now is that there's no scoreboard to clearly describe our situation and we aren't really sure if we are actually in halftime yet. We have been in a pause and our energy is likely to have lulled during the challenging first half.
BUT! It's now time to re-assess and take action. Here's a couple suggestions on how to pause at halftime and have a great re-start...
1 Remember the BIG, IMPORTANT things in your life and keep spending time on them. For many of us, we've been given an opportunity to spend time with family, exercising, communicating with extended family and friends, sit quietly, and many other things that are really important to our overall health. Work hard to hold on to these things!
2 Find a way to HELP OTHERS. For the foreseeable future, there will lots of people that need assistance in lots of ways. Put your 'help others' radar on and respond to the needs that you see that you can meet. It is amazing how much energy and enthusiasm is returned to those that find ways to help others.
3 Create a new connection with LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE. We have had time to connect with others outside of our network in unprecedented ways. I have developed brand new professional friendships with leaders around the country because of the now infamous Zoom meeting. These relationships have proven to be valuable sources of support and that won't change when we go back to our new normal.Keep creating connection with people that share your same passion and purpose.
4 FORGIVE YOURSELF for whatever you did not accomplish to this point. I think many of us saw the massive pause coming, the unexpected opportunities, and made big plans for this time. If you didn't see it coming, you likely pivoted quickly and began to make your plans. I also think many of us didn't do exactly what we expected to do. In some ways, this feels like failure and that feeling can stall us out even more. Forgive yourself, and make a fresh commitment to investing your time and energy in important things during this 'second half'.
5 Imagine what you want to be true at the conclusion (that you have control over) and START WORKING TOWARDS IT. I fiercely believe that whatever you do well right now will return exponentially when we go back to our new normal. That requires intense focus right where you are, right now. Too many teams begin their winning effort late in the 4th quarter and too often that is too late. Winning is reserved for those that take action in the present.
I think halftime is over, everyone. Let's win this thing in the second half.
Keep on, keeping on, everyone!
‘Bite Down and Don’t Let Go’ is a collection of writings on
being intentional about life in a way that produces great persistence. Read
about it more here.
Dr. Chris Hobbs is an educational leader and Director
of Athletics at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. He’s earned a few
degrees and won some awards. He’s happily married to his high school
sweetheart and they have three teen age children. Life is messy and complicated
most of the time. You can follow him on Twitter
for all sorts of inspirational thoughts and good laughs.
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