15 Leadership Quotes And Principles From LeBron James Supporting Cast

Are you the star of your organization?  Do you think you should be?  If so, how is your attitude?  Are you bitter? 

Leaders want to lead.  That’s normal.  But what happens when you’re asked to play a supporting role?  How should you handle that?  And if you are leading a team of role players, what do you need to know to effectively lead them? 

When the Miami Heat acquired LeBron James and Chris Bosh, who joined team leader Dwayne Wade, they became the favorites to win this year’s NBA championship.  The key to the team’s chances though will rest with their supporting cast?

Steve Greenberg in the October 25th edition of The Sporting News sat down with Heat players Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mario Chalmers, and Mike Miller.  If you are currently part of a supporting cast, listen to these insights.  You will find their thoughts both challenging as well as enlightening.

1. “Guys gave up a lot of money to come play together.  They sacrificed financially, which you don’t see in this league.” - Ilgauskas.  Effective role players sacrifice.
2. “We know we are going to get our chances to step up, and when our time is called we’ll be ready for it.” – Chalmers.  Effective role players take advantage of opportunity when it presents itself.
3. “Everybody kind of realized that this could be the beginning of something special.” – Ilgauskas.  Role players can be satisfied if they are part of something significant.
4. “I don’t think role player necessarily means you’re not any good.” – Miller.  Role players need to be affirmed.
5. “We’ve got to be able to be accountable for what we’re supposed to do on the floor.” – Miller.  Role players need to and want to be held accountable.
6. “Look at all the championship teams from the past – they all had role players.” – Chalmers.  Role players are necessary for team success.
7. “You play this game to win a championship.” – Ilgauskas.  Effective role players focus on the main goal.
8. “I said all along in the summer during free agency that I was making a decision to win.” – Miller.  Effective role players look for where they best fit. 
9. “A lot of players WERE stars, but now we know who ARE the stars.” – Chalmers.  Effective role players properly evaluate reality.
10. “It’s about knowing who you are.  I realize that in order for me to be the best basketball player I can be at this level, I’m a third, fourth option.” – Miller.  Effective role players understand how to benefit the team.
11. “We’ve got to learn to get with what they (James, Bosh, Wade) like to do, what makes them comfortable, and gain their trust.” – Miller.  Effective role players make others successful.
12. “We don’t have any idiots on the team or guys with bad track records.” – Ilgauskas.  Effective role players have quality character.
13. “If we lose two in a row, everyone is going to wonder what’s wrong with the Miami Heat…We’ve got to make sure we’re the best come April.” – Miller.  Effective role players understand process.
14. “It doesn’t really matter how we start the season; it’s how you finish.” – Chalmers.  Effective role players finish assignments well.
15. “I talked to my wife.  That’s the only thing that matters – we’re going to move the family, how we’re going to do it.  She said it was all right, that was it.”  Effective role players put their personal ambitions to the side (and bite their tongue) for the well-being of their families.

As a leader, are you leading your role players in this fashion?  As a role player, are the traits listed above reflective of you?  What are we willing to change?

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