Brandon Bakke: Leadership Lessons from the Bench
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
Brandon Bakke had a decision to make. After accepting a scholarship to play basketball at Fresno State, he found himself on the bench. A back-up, role player, or bench warmer is often the phrase and it often leads to resentment and negativity as most players want to get in the game.
Brandon found a different approach, one as a culture builder and learned to own his role and to fight what he calls “me-ism”. It changed his life and has helped him not only as a player, but later as a coach and school administrator.
Brandon shares his story in a new booked called Lessons from the Bench, and this applies to leadership in sports, parenting, and the workplace where teamwork is key.
Guest Resources
IG: @brandonbakke12
Facebook: @lessonsfromthebench
Website: www.lessonsfromthebench.org
Book: Lessons from the Bench
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Want to skip to the good part? Here’s this episode’s segments:
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Team Dynamics
02:58 The Journey from Star to Support
05:28 Understanding Me-ism and Its Impact
08:09 The Role of Coaches in Team Culture
10:45 Navigating Modern Challenges in Team Sports
13:35 Lessons from Legendary Coaches
16:16 The Importance of Purpose in Team Roles
19:15 Celebrating the Bench and Its Impact
22:06 Real-Life Examples of Role Players in Sports
27:39 The Power of the Ready Squad
28:40 Trent Dilfer's Journey: From Backup to Super Bowl Champion
32:20 Embracing Your Role: The Bench Player's Mindset
37:55 The Importance of Culture and Communication
43:25 Lessons from the Bench: Parenting and Adversity
47:26 The Journey of Writing a Book: Vulnerability and Purpose
