BY DR. JACK WELCH

Never Underestimate the Other Side of the Fence

Sometimes, whether something is considered a success or a failure depends on which side of the fence you are standing. This week, college basketball gave us a pretty good example. East Texas A&M traveled to Norman, Oklahoma, to take on the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma was favored by 28.5 points. The Sooners had built an impressive home-court winning streak, while East Texas A&M was picked to finish last in the Southland Conference this season.

The experts had already decided how this game would turn out. Somebody forgot to tell the Lions though. East Texas A&M walked away with a 68-64 victory, one of the biggest wins in the program’s history. The win was not a fluke. The Lions led for more than 75% of the game. They came prepared, played with confidence and earned every bit of that victory.

Now, let’s look at both sides of the fence. For Oklahoma, this was a disappointing loss. We don’t know whether the Sooners underestimated their opponent or simply didn’t execute as they needed to. One lesson is clear: talent, reputation and expectations don’t guarantee results. Every opponent deserves preparation and respect.

For East Texas A&M, the story was different. They didn’t spend their time worrying about being picked last in their conference or being a 28.5-point underdog. They focused on the opportunity in front of them and played to the best of their ability. They didn’t let somebody else’s expectations become their limitations.

There is a leadership lesson here for all of us. In business, education and the workplace, we sometimes make decisions based on assumptions. We underestimate a situation, overlook important details or fail to consider the people who will be affected. We assume something will be easy, fail to do our homework and eventually find ourselves dealing with a problem we could have prevented.

Good leadership means never assuming. It means preparing, listening, respecting others and giving every situation the attention it deserves. At the same time, we should never allow someone else’s opinion of our abilities to determine what we accomplish. Our expectations of ourselves should be greater than the limitations others place on us.

Thought for the Week: “Never underestimate the other side of the fence, and never let someone else’s expectations determine which side of the fence you believe you belong on. Preparation earns respect, but belief and effort can change expectations.”

Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.