Page 249 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Adversity Is Your Asset
Coach Wooden didn’t teach character; he nurtured it. He 231
chose individuals to be on the team based on talent, of
course, but not talent alone. He wanted a certain kind of
individual—the team player, a person with integrity and
values.
Then he nurtured those values just like he nurtured your
talent as an athlete. Honesty, being unselfish, caring about
your teammates, a good work ethic, all these things were
stressed constantly.
Along with this he would never degrade, abuse, or humil-
iate individuals, even though he had the power to do it. After
all, he was the boss. But he gave respect even when discipline
was doled out.
Coach is a master psychologist who understands the dif-
ferences in people. Certain things he insisted on, like no
swearing, being on time, no showboating, all of that. But
when it came to working with us, he treated everybody as an
individual, approached each of us in a way that worked.
Jack Hirsch, for example, was a free spirit, very flippant,
and the only guy on the team who addressed Coach Wooden
as John. Coach understood that it was not being done in a
disrespectful manner and let him do it. Coach knew Jack was-
n’t crossing the line. It was just Jack being Jack.
When he crossed the line, however, there was a price to pay.
OnedaywewereeatingdinneratthetrainingtableandJackgot
upandsaid,“Ican’teatthisslop.”Coachverycalmly,butfirmly,
suspended Jack—told him not to come back until he could
apologize as well as eat what all the other players were eating.
Coach understood the disrespect that was carried in Jack’s
remarks about our food. Disrespect by anyone for anyone was
simply not allowed.