Coach John Wooden & Building the Unstoppable Team

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Stay tuned for more blog postings from Mary Kier.

I recall reading once a great lesson gleaned from the battlefield: people don’t fight for abstract causes, they fight for the person in the foxhole next to them. For me the concept of fighting for the person to your side is exactly why teams work, from the battlefield to the board room. John Wooden knew this lesson too and lived it every day as a coach who instilled in his teams a focus on group effort over individual heroics.

A large portion of a leader’s job is to be the energizer for the organization. Picture if you will being a battery that can jump-start people and ultimately get - not just individuals - but also teams -  moving in the right direction. Being an energetic coach, and cheer-leading the team members to become their best selves, will encourage them to reach higher goals as they propel their performance forward.

John Wooden said many memorable things about being a coach, but this may be my favorite passage from his most recent book on leadership:

"What occurred in the practices is what gave me joy and satisfaction – teaching others how to bring forth the best of which they are capable.  Ultimately, I believe that’s what leadership is all about:  Helping others to achieve their own greatness by helping the organization to succeed.  Competitive Greatness is being at your best when your best is needed.  To me that is the most exciting part of being a leader: the journey to become the best of which you and your team are capable."

In your endeavor of cultivating teamwork you will find that most leaders know teams form around common objectives. But what they sometimes fail to recognize is that great teams grow and develop around the bond of teammates. When emotions and good spirit join forces the team is unstoppable.