10 Practices Of Leaders Who Dominate The Competition

“We come here (NCAA Final Four) with the best team..All you have to do is play your A-game and there’s no pressure on you.  We try to diffuse the pressure by saying, ‘We’re the best team.'” – UConn girls head basketball coach Geno Auriemma

One of the most dominant leaders of any industry or area of discipline is The University of Connecticut girls head basketball coach Geno Auriemma.  Having just finished with a perfect 40-0 record and winning has ninth NCAA championship, Coach Auriemma is one of the most accomplished leaders you will find.

In an ESPN championship post-game interview following the team’s victory over Notre Dame, Coach Auriemma discussed why his teams are so dominant.  You can be see the full interview by clicking here.

Whether you lead a church, business, non-profit or athletic organization, the following 10 Practices Of Leaders Who Dominate The Competition will better equip you to achieve ultimate success:

1. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Put People Over Results – This is counter-intuitive thinking.  Great leaders know people not only have to be ABLE to help you but also WANT to help you.  Auriemma said, “The numbers aren’t nearly as important as the people attached to those numbers.”
2. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Set High Expectations For Everyone Else – Referring to graduating seniors Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley, Auriemma remembered, “Right as freshman kids they had to get it done.  They came in right in the middle of a 78-game winning streak.”
3. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Do Not Have False Humility – False humility is disingenuous and erodes trust.  God does not hold great leaders responsible for denying their giftedness.  He holds them responsible for properly investing it.  All leaders should listen to Auriemma’s words, “We come here with the best team..All you have to do is play your A-game and there’s no pressure on you.  We try to diffuse the pressure by saying, ‘We’re the best team.'”
4. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Instill A Sense Of Great Confidence – Doubt and uncertainty constrict a team’s ability to perform at maximum efficiency.  Auriemma stresses, “You try to eliminate the doubts.”
5. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Overcome Adversity – Auriemma continues, “We had a lot of adversity as team and she (Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis) had a lot of adversity and I love the way she responded.”
6. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Embrace Pressure And Big Moments – Do you feel as if your leadership really counts?  Auriemma does.  He says, “You come to Connecticut for the big moments and you try to instill that in your players immediately from the time they get there so they want the big moments.  They want the spotlight.  They want the pressure games.”  As leaders, we should all be so lucky.
7. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Count What Counts – John Maxwell teaches leaders should never confuse activity with accomplishment.  At UConn, “You win the championship or it’s a lost season.”
8. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Properly Evaluate Reality – The fundamental responsibility of leadership is to evaluate reality.  Regarding his record in championship games, Auriemma says, “9-0. Eight of those times we had the best team.”
9. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Expect To Do So – Excellence becomes average when it is all you have.  As a result, even the greatest leaders are often taken for granted.  Auriemma matter-of-factly acknowledges, “We’re supposed to win.  That’s what the president and A.D. tell me.”
10. Leaders Who Dominate The Competition Celebrate – A leader who does not celebrate is not a leader worth following.  Auriemma concluded, “There won’t be any sleeping tonight but in the next couple of days I’m going to try and catch up.”

Put People Over Results, Set High Expectations, Avoid False Humility, Build Confidence, Overcome Adversity, Embrace Pressure and Big Moments, Count What Counts, Evaluate Reality, Expect To Dominate and Celebrate when you do.  If you practice these 10 things, you too may one day be a leader who dominates.

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