I love the community of leaders we have built on this site!!! We are truly part of a wonderful tribe who God is using to accomplish much in this world.
This past Monday, June 16th I received the most amazing email for a reader. Dr. Jim Bazar is the Secondary Principal of Castle Hills First Baptist School in San Antonio, TX. He opened his email with the following sentences: “Brian, I enjoy reading your posts and after watching the Spurs win their 5th championship, it caused me to think about the leadership involved. Thought you might be encouraged.”
Dr. Bazar was right. I was encouraged and so will you after reading his insights. If Dr. Bazar is any indication of the quality of leadership which exists at Castle Hills in San Antonio, you should consider sending your children there if you live in the area. Call 210-377-8481 or click www.chfbs.org or www.facebook.com/mightyeagles for more information.
Now, the rest of his email:
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Leadership Lessons from the 2014 NBA Finals
In beginning, let me say that I am a true SPURS fan. I think they are the greatest and classiest team of the current era. Yet, in watching the Finals this year, I noticed several things that can apply to being successful as a team and the leadership needed for success.
1. You can have great team members, but unless they work together you do not reach your goal.
LeBron James, no matter what people think of him as a player or a person, is one of the premier players in the league at this time. He also has two other great players alongside of him on the court with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Even so, the team play of the Spurs proved to be insurmountable.
2. Sacrificing for the team brings individual rewards in a championship.
Basketball is a team sport! Championships are won by teams who play well together.
3. Every team member has to lead at some time.
Throughout the five game series, the Spurs had different players (many times the “role players”) take the reins of leadership and lead for that time. Whether it was for a play, a quarter, or an entire game, different “leaders” emerged to gain the victory.
4. Leaders and team members are comfortable with his or her role and allow others to be just as comfortable.
When Kawhi Leonard received the award for the Finals MVP, the rest of the team was just as excited that he won as Kawhi was in earning the honor.
5. A true leader celebrates team over self.
When the team was on the podium receiving the Championship trophy, Coach Pop was not at the front. Rather, he was at the back allowing his team to celebrate the championship season he orchestrated.
6. Leadership that supports the team is long term.
For the past 15 years, not only has San Antonio won 5 championships; they have been in contention each year by going to the playoffs. For many of the years the team went very deep into the run for the Finals. From the make up of the team, it looks like the Spurs are still posed to advance to the playoffs for years to come.
7. Leaders allow people to do their job.
Peter Holt, owner of the team, allows his staff to do what they are good at doing. Coach Pop and R. C. Buford are tireless in attracting, motivating, coaching, and winning with the team members they attract and put in place.
8. Leaders treat team members as individuals.
Coach Pop has an extraordinary way of working with the diverse team he has created. Diverse in temperament, in nationality (players from Australia, Italy, France, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and the Virgin Islands), and in NBA longevity (rookie Aron Baynes and 3rd year player Kawhi Leonard to 16 year veteran Tim Duncan), yet Coach Pop still finds a way to mold them as a team while treating each one individually.
9. Leaders lead by example.
James understood this and voiced it when going out to play game five. He looked at his team and stated, “Follow me.” He knew he would need the same level of play, intensity and desire from his team that he gave. He could not expect them to give more than he did.
10. Leaders are gracious, even when the results are not what is desired.
Although James and the other leaders on the Miami Heat fought for their 3rd title in 3 years; when they lost the series, they held their heads high and congratulated the Spurs.
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That is AWESOME!!! So if you have great leadership insights you wish to share, please comment or send to briand@injoystewardship.com. Who knows, they may even appear as a guest blog!
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