What communicators can learn from basketball

March Madness is ostensibly about basketball, but the tournament is also a wonderful showcase for teamwork and communication.

Of course, most of us will never be forced to perform our duties in front of screaming fans (“Write faster! You suck, spreadsheet guy!”). However, regardless of your role, there’s plenty for communication types to glean from the drama, glory and agony of pressure-packed basketball games.

Try these hoops-centric takeaways to get your team rolling on more productive breakaways:

Be a facilitator. Contrary to much of the action featured in “Space Jam,” basketball is not all dunks and individual effort (that’s why you lost, Monstars). The best teams share the ball generously, whipping it around the floor to find the open person. Unselfish passing is the surest way to score.

Corporate communication is not so different. Your job is akin to being a point guard, and your ball is the messaging. You move messages around the organization and serve as the key conduit for distributing accurate information.

You might not be the most visible “star” player who gets the glory or the press, but you’re the underrated grinder who makes the team run smoothly.