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Motivational Speaker, Coach, and Trainer, Coach Jim Johnson

Bill Russell Tribute: What made him great?

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

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