Page 119 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Call Yourself a Teacher
to change, other times not. But it was part of an ongoing desire 101
to increase my knowledge of what I was being paid to teach:
basketball.
It is very easy to get comfortable in a position of leadership, to be-
lieve that you’ve got all the answers, especially when you begin to enjoy
some success. People start telling you that you’re the smartest one
around. But if you believe them, you’re just the dumbest one around.
That’s one of the reasons it’s extremely difficult to stay at the top—
because once you get there, it is so easy to stop listening and learning.
When success comes your way, you must work even harder and
avoid the great temptation of believing that previous achievements
will occur in the future without even greater effort than was re-
quired in the past. As a leader, you must never become satisfied,
never content that what you know is all you need to know. This is
especially true when it comes to understanding human nature. No
two people are alike. Each individual under your management is
unique. There is no formula that applies to all. Some need a push;
others you lead. Recognizing the difference requires a good under-
standing of human nature, which, in turn, helps us know how to
get the most out of those we work with, promotes rapport, and
strengthens team play.
I was asked, “Coach Wooden, how can I learn about human na-
ture?” I replied, “Get old.” Of course, I was referring to the value
of experience, the knowledge gained from doing something for
years. There’s a quicker way to gain the information experience
provides, namely, ask somebody who already has it.
This is what I was doing in reaching out to other coaches
throughout my career. Some were mentors; others were teachers.
All had experience and knowledge that I could draw on and bene-
fit from. I paid attention to what they said because it made me a
better teacher. I was shy as a teenager, but I was bold as an adult
when it came to seeking ideas, opinions, and knowledge.