Legacy of a Leader

When I was a young boy growing up, my world often revolved around sports. Basketball easily became my favorite sport when I became a teenager. At the time, the NBA was usually dominated by 2 teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Perhaps it was the purple and gold uniforms but for some reason the Lakers became my team. My favorite player was Kareem Abdul- Jabbar and his seemingly unstoppable skyhook. As I grew older, I learned more about Kareem and how he attended UCLA and was a part of the greatest dynasty in American sports. I learned UCLA had won 10 championships and at one point had won 88 consecutive games. UCLA was coached by John Wooden. Surely Wooden proved himself to be a great coach but little did I know how he embodied a great leader. Years later, I learned that John Wooden had created a “Pyramid of Success” which identified characteristics necessary for achieving success. The following are those traits that I have found most valuable and have tried to incorporate into my life.

Industriousness, as Coach Wooden calls it, or hard work should be at the foundation of any leader. Plain and simple, there is no substitute for hard work and you need to be willing to put the time in. By being willing to work hard and continually improve your skillset, you are also showing others the path needed to be successful. One of the great things Wooden mentions is “working hard is essential and only you really know if you are doing it – giving it everything you’ve got.”

Loyalty is also an essential attribute of an effective leader. In addition to being loyal to your organization or those you lead, you also need to be loyal to yourself and your values and beliefs. Coach stated decades ago “the majority of us wish to be in an organization whose leadership cares about them, provides fairness and respect, dignity, and consideration” and I believe this still rings very true today.

Another valuable asset for a leader is enthusiasm. In order to...