Page 68 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Wooden on Leadership
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essential threesome in greatly expanded form: Condition, Skill, and
Team Spirit. Considered in isolation, this third tier of values con-
stitutes a remarkable set of personal assets.
“As ye sow, so shall ye reap.” However, as additions to your rising Pyra-
mid of Success, they elevate you, the leader,
propelling you very close to the top. Now, something quite pow-
erful is about to occur.
Each of these 12 blocks is necessary, in my opinion, for leaders
and organizations to excel, to become extraordinary. However,
these qualities do not come easily. Great results come only with
great effort. The Pyramid of Success is no exception.
However, when you have given your best to assemble these three
tiers, they will, in turn, give something significant back to you: a
rich and rewarding harvest, one that will take you and your orga-
nization the rest of the way.

POISE
I define poise as being true to oneself, not getting rattled, thrown
off, or unbalanced regardless of the circumstance or situation. This
may sound easy, but Poise can be a most elu-
“If you can keep your head sive quality in challenging times. Leaders
when all about you lacking Poise panic under pressure.
Are losing theirs and Poise means holding fast to your beliefs
blaming it on you.” and acting in accordance with them, regard-
—R. Kipling less of how bad or good the situation may
be. Poise means avoiding pose or pretense,
comparing yourself to others, and acting like someone you’re not.
Poise means having a brave heart in all circumstances.
You’ll know you possess Poise when you achieve what Rudyard
Kipling described in his poem written a hundred years ago:

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same...