Page 38 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Wooden on Leadership
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large poster of the Pyramid hung behind my desk in the office at
Kerckhoff Hall.

YOUR OWN EXAMPLE COUNTS MOST
Most of all I attempted to demonstrate in my behavior—on and
off the court—those qualities I hold so dear, the values within the
Pyramid.
I believe there is no more powerful leadership tool than your
own personal example. In almost every way the team ultimately be-
comes a reflection of their leader. For me, I wanted that reflection
to be mirrored in the Pyramid of Success. I attempted to teach it
mainly by my own example.
Was my Pyramid the reason UCLA won championships? No,
there were many reasons. However, I believe the Pyramid played a
very important part, just as it played a role in that 1959–1960 sea-
son, when we achieved success while losing almost as many games
as we won.
The ultimate role of the Pyramid was not to produce champi-
onships; championships were a by-product. Rather, it provided di-
rections for reaching one’s own ultimate level of excellence as a part
of a team or as leader of the team. The Pyramid didn’t guarantee
that UCLA would outscore an opponent, only that our opponent
would face individuals—united as a team—who were fully pre-
pared to battle hard and compete at their highest level. The score
would take care of itself.
In some years that produced the great “surprise” of a 14–12 record
while in other years it produced a national championship. In all
years, except 1973–1974, it produced UCLA teams that knew what
was required to achieve success and then went out and did it. Beyond
the Xs and Os of basketball, I wanted the blocks of the Pyramid to
define us as a team. I also hoped it would define me as a leader.