Page 58 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Wooden on Leadership
40
Be a Heads-Up Leader.
Make Alertness a habit. Take the necessary steps to see what’s com-
ing. The most effective leaders think two or three steps ahead. They
know the details of their business and constantly monitor their sur-
roundings, the inner workings of their organizations, their competi-
tors, and anything else likely to affect the performance of their team.

Do Not Fear Failure or Punish Initiative.
Even well-reasoned actions can fail. Mistakes and failed action are
part of progress. An effective leader understands this—accepts it—
and strives to make sure those missteps are not caused by sloppiness,
haste, or poor judgment. Furthermore, when you punish your peo-
ple for making a mistake or falling short of a goal, you create an en-
vironment of extreme caution, even fearfulness. In sports it’s similar
to playing “not to lose”—a formula that often brings on defeat.

Make Sure Your Team Does Not Come Up Short in the Long
Run—Intentness.
Call it focus, persistence, determination, or relentlessness, all add up
to the same thing: You, the leader, must make sure your team doesn’t
wander off the path of persistence. Losing focus, giving a half-hearted
effort, or quitting before the task is complete are all hallmarks of
those who aspire to, but never acquire, success. Few things are more
important—especially in challenging times—than leadership that per-
sonifies Intentness, an unremitting determination to press on.