Page 216 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Wooden on Leadership
198
Additionally, my notes showed that in preparation for the
NCAA tournament, I added new plays and piled on more infor-
mation. Instead of staying with what had worked during the regu-
lar season—a clear and uncomplicated strategy—I unintentionally
made things complicated. I resolved that in the future I would keep
it simple going into postseason play just as I did during the regu-
lar season.
These changes—concentrating on a “starting seven,” not over-
working players prior to the tournament, and keeping it simple—
came about from my personal observations and reflections
following the revelation of the 1962 season, the fateful year that al-
most produced a surprise national championship for UCLA.
The changes I have described came about because I had stopped
giving myself an excuse for accepting the status quo, for staying at
the same level. But change was only beginning.

LOOK FOR “YES” MEN WHO WILL SAY “NO”
I believe one of the requirements of good leadership is the ability
to listen—really listen—to those in your organization. Being a
good listener, however, is only half of the
“An effective leader is very
equation. As a leader, you must be confident
good at listening. And it’s
enough to employ individuals who aren’t
difficult to listen when
afraid to speak up and voice their opinion. If
you’re talking.”
you’re willing to listen, it means little if no-
body is willing to talk in a substantive manner.
It’s also important that those individuals under your leadership
embrace your overall philosophy, your system or way of doing
things. It’s one of the reasons I sought assistant coaches who un-
derstood, believed in, and agreed with my fast-play style of bas-
ketball. For example, when Minnesota initially insisted on telling
me that Dave McMillan was going to be my assistant coach, I re-