Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd

The words of Larry Bird, “Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It's being able to take it as well as dish it out. That's the only way you're going to get respect from the players,” are not merely the reflections of a basketball legend, but the distillation of a timeless truth about the essence of leadership. Bird, forged in the fire of competition, knew that leadership is not about titles, glamour, or commanding others from above—it is about action, sacrifice, humility, and respect earned through deeds.

The ancients, too, spoke of this law. The generals of Greece and Rome understood that true loyalty was not won by lofty speeches alone but by standing shoulder to shoulder with their men in the dust of battle. The warrior-king led by example, showing that he would share in both the danger and the glory. Bird echoes this wisdom in the language of sport: diving for a loose ball is the modern form of the ancient charge into the fray. It is the leader saying, “I will do the hard thing, the dirty work, so that my brothers may see my heart and trust my will.”

Bird himself embodied this creed during his career with the Boston Celtics. Though known for his unmatched skill, it was his willingness to hustle, sacrifice, and involve others that made him not only a great player but a great leader. He played through injuries, absorbed criticism, took hits on the court, and yet always gave as much as he expected from others. His example inspired teammates to rise higher, not out of fear, but out of respect. This is why his leadership was revered—because it was built on shared struggle and shared triumph.

History offers many parallels. Consider George Washington at Valley Forge. His soldiers, starving and cold, could have deserted in despair. But Washington walked among them, sharing their hunger, their frost, their hardship. Like Bird diving for the loose ball, Washington showed through his own sacrifice that he was not above his men. In this, he won not only obedience but deep and abiding respect. Soldiers will follow a commander who demands much, but they will give their souls to one who demands of himself as much or more than he demands of them.

The meaning of Bird’s words is both inspiring and demanding. Inspiring, because they remind us that leadership is accessible to all—it is not about extraordinary speeches or untouchable charisma, but about doing the small, gritty acts that show commitment. Demanding, because it asks us to give of ourselves before we ask of others, to endure criticism as well as to give it, to put team before self. True leadership is not lording over others, but standing among them, shoulder to shoulder, in the heat of the game of life.

The lesson for us is clear: if you desire to lead—whether in work, in family, or in community—do not ask others to do what you are unwilling to do yourself. Show them through your actions what you value. Step forward into the hard tasks, take responsibility for failures, share credit for victories, and invite others into the moment. Respect is not commanded—it is earned by living the values you wish others to follow.

The practical action is this: in your daily life, identify the “loose balls” no one else wants to chase—the hard tasks, the thankless duties, the sacrifices others avoid—and dive for them. Involve those around you, not only in success but in the process. When challenges come, be willing to take it—criticism, hardship, failure—as well as to dish it out in guidance or discipline. In this balance, you will find that others look to you not because of position, but because of trust.

Therefore, O listener, take to heart the wisdom of Larry Bird: “Leadership is diving for a loose ball… it’s being able to take it as well as dish it out.” For in this, we are reminded that leadership is not about being above others, but about being with them—in the sweat, in the struggle, and in the striving for victory. Such is the way respect is won, and such is the path of a leader whose influence will endure beyond the game.