ADVERTISEMENT

A CEO explains why he runs his company 'like a 2,000-person basketball team'

United Shore CEO Mat Ishbia draws upon the lessons he learned playing basketball for Michigan State.

Always challenge the why, says CEO Mat Ishbia (pictured).

United Shore CEO Mat Ishbia says he likes to run his organization "like a 2,000-person basketball team."

ADVERTISEMENT

It's a mentality he's taken from his days playing on the Michigan State Spartans under coach Tom Izzo.

Ishbia isn't exactly ordering the employees at his Troy, Michigan-based financial services business to run suicides or practice their layups.

He just wants them to always "challenge the why" and ask questions. This stems from his experience helping Izzo coach the Spartans in his last year on the team.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I was coaching with him and I'd ask, 'Why do our guys have to get up at five in the morning and lift weights in the summer?'," Ishbia told Business Insider. "When I was playing it was like, 'This sucks. I don't want to get up at five in the morning.'"

Izzo's explanation proved enlightening: The early wakeup would prevent players from partying and getting in trouble. It also gave the team a chance to bond and grab breakfast together before classes started.

By questioning the coach, Ishbia gained some valuable insight on how to run a team. Had he simply accepted the grueling pre-dawn workouts, he says he would have just gone on thinking they were part of some sort of arbitrary reasoning on Izzo's part. Asking questions allowed Ishbia to become a better coach himself.

Ishbia says that today, he also encourages his own employees to challenge the status quo and ask questions. That way, workers can either facilitate change by shining the spotlight on outdated or problematic methods, or at least gain some perspective on why certain things are done the way they are.

"I don't care what it is, you can challenge me on anything, and I'll tell you why," Ishbia said. "You might not think I'm right. You might not think my answer's a good answer. But I'll always tell you why. It's good because then if you’re just doing something for the sake of doing it, it gets challenged."

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

10 African countries that waste the most food in 2024

10 African countries that waste the most food in 2024

US troop withdrawal from Niger hangs in the balance

US troop withdrawal from Niger hangs in the balance

Detained Binance executives sue Nigerian authorities for human right violation

Detained Binance executives sue Nigerian authorities for human right violation

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Exploring the popularity of progressive jackpot slots in Indonesia

Exploring the popularity of progressive jackpot slots in Indonesia

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

ADVERTISEMENT