Page 43 - How to Create a Winning Organization

The Pyramid of Success
we have an old friend from high school whom we haven’t seen in 25
20 years. All are friends in different and good ways—but not in the
way I mean Friendship.
The two qualities of Friendship so important for a leader to pos-
sess and instill in team members are respect and camaraderie. To
me these are the most noteworthy characteristics of true Friend-
ship as it pertains to leadership.
Camaraderie is a spirit of goodwill that exists between individ-
uals and members of a group—comrades-in-arms. Think of how
much you’ll give when asked to do so by someone you respect and
with whom you share camaraderie. You’ll give plenty—everything
you’ve got. Those under your leadership will do the same if you
show them this part of yourself.
Contrast that situation with a leader who lacks camaraderie and
respect for and from those in the organization. Which leader will
get the most out of the team? The difference is immense.
Thus, I sought and valued these two particular qualities of
Friendship in my relationship with individuals on the team. I did
not seek their affection nor wish to be “buddies.” Mutual respect
and camaraderie strengthen your team. Affection, in fact, may
weaken it by causing you to play favorites.
I tried extremely hard not to have favorites, even though there
were many players over the years for whom I did have great affec-
tion. I did not want my personal feelings—liking a person or not—
to be apparent, to give the appearance of favoring one over another.
I was not always successful in my endeavor.
John Ecker, a player I liked perhaps as much as any I ever
coached, told me years later he thought I disliked him while he was
a member of our team. I was unhappy to hear this information;
nevertheless, I took comfort in knowing that I’d not treated him as
a favorite even though he was one.
Although I went overboard perhaps in attempting to avoid the