Page 46 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Wooden on Leadership
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In sports and business, the connection between the leader and
members of the team can be deeply personal. It involves so many
crucial aspects of life, including the mental, emotional, and finan-
cial. Outside of marriage itself, the professional team you lead can
be the strongest connection in your life. For that to happen, you
must be true to yourself and your team. You must have Loyalty.
And when you have it, you will get it from your team.

COOPERATION
As a leader you must be sincerely committed to what’s right rather
than who’s right. For this to occur, the final block of the Pyramid’s
foundation must be present and active:
“When the best leader’s
Cooperation.
work is done the people say,
It is often difficult for a strong-willed leader
‘We did it ourselves.’”
to incorporate Cooperation, because listening
—Lao-tse
to others, evaluating—embracing—their
opinions and creativity, may seem to suggest uncertainty and
doubt about your own judgment and convictions. The ego gets in
the way of your eyes and ears. It’s easy to get lost in your own tun-
nel vision.
An effective leader understands that it is a sign of strength to
welcome honest differences and new ways of thinking from those
on your team as well as from others. Progress is difficult when you
won’t listen. Cooperation is impossible if we refuse to consider the
merits of contrary opinions.
A dictator-style leader has all the answers and no questions. This
kind of boss demands performance according to unbending and
unchanging personal ideas. And, it can work. However, a leader
who incorporates the productive ideas and creativity of others
makes it work better. That’s what we want, not just making some-
thing work but making it work better and better.