If you like college basketball, the names Coach K (Duke Blue Devils) and Pat Summit (Tennessee Lady Volunteers) are familiar. They are the two winningest coaches in Division I college basketball history. Both were honored by Sports Illustrated as the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year in 2011. You may (or may not) be a fan of their respective teams; either way, you can’t argue with their success.
The December 2011 SI article that honored the two coaches caught my eye—in part because I like college basketball. It also grabbed my attention because of a reference to leadership that goes beyond the obvious records and accomplishments that they both have achieved. For Krzyzewski and Summit, “coaching starts with understanding the individual,” wrote Donald G. Zauderer, a professor emeritus at American University in an assessment of the two coaches. “Both invest large amounts of time and energy in getting to know players—their values, emotional makeup, and hopes and dreams for a successful life.”
I think this approach to coaching basketball can be translated to a successful approach to leadership (and coaching) in organizations. Leading people starts with understanding the individual—what makes them tick, what type of environment they need to be engaged and motivated, what they need to be successful, what’s important to them at and away from work. There is great value in getting to know (and understand) individuals on a deeper level—it is here where trust is developed and success achieved.
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Tags: Beyond the Jargon, Calibra, Diane Hamilton, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, trust
