Is Bill Russell the greatest champion of all time?
After Bill Russell’s passing, since he was such a beloved professional, I decided to read Russell Rules: 11 Lessons on Leadership. While most people know him as a great champion (rightfully so – he won 11 NBA championships in 13 years, PLUS two more titles in college at the University of San Francisco), this book illustrates his fantastic leadership skills. In the #CJJblog this week, seven of my favorite lessons from this book. Enjoy.
- Commitment. All commitment begins with curiosity. To be an effective leader, you need to be curious about life and people. Bill was a great teammate because of this.
- Ego = MC2. He talks about the importance having a team ego as opposed to a personal one. The teams’ success should always come before any personal interests. Are you someone who puts the team first?
- Listening. Your listening should never be casual or taken lightly. Active listening is a lost art and something that is often forgotten about. How are your listening skills?
- Toughness and tenderness. Do you have a good balance of the two? Tough love is good, but only when it’s accompanied by some tenderness and empathy for those around you.
- Invisible man. Being invisible simply means your actions are non-existent. Your actions speak louder than your words. Do you conduct yourself as such?
- Personal integrity. Do you consistently do the right thing? Leading by example is extremely powerful, but easier said than done.
- The Three D’s. Russell illustrated these three D’s his entire career: 1) Discipline – One of the best rebounders in NBA history, 2) Decision-making – Standing by his decisions with his teammates, and 3) Delegation – Understanding he was not a scorer, so he made that easier for others.
Did You Know? Coach will be speaking at the upcoming GrowGetters Only Networking Event next week on Tuesday, August 23rd from 5:30-6:30pm EST. You can check it out and register HERE.
Life Tip #32: The harder you work, the luckier you get