Is it easy to lead your most talented people or difficult? Talented people produce, are self-starters, and do not need your constant attention. However, they also are opinionated, strong-willed, creative, sometimes unmanageable, and could leave your organization because they have options. So which is it?
If you are a good leader who is secure and talented yourself, it is much easier to lead talented people. But unto whom much is given (talented people), much is required.
In Ian Thomsen’s excellent new book The Soul Of Basketball: The Epic Showdown Between LeBron, Kobe, Doc, and Dirk That Saved The NBA, he recounts the Los Angeles Lakers new head coach Pat Riley’s first practice in 1981. He asked the five-time MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to express leadership. Jabbar said, “I’m going to come and play every night as hard as I can, give you everything I can, because I have great pride. I know what my position is in the league. What I’d like you go do is keep everybody else in shape and keep them on track and keep them going. And then I don’t have to worry about doing it.” Wow!!!!
Riley recounted this story as he was preparing to help lead the Miami Heat’s 2010 new free agent acquisition LeBron James. Here is what Riley said James wanted from leadership:
“They (former team Cleveland Cavaliers) may not have had talent that he respected and that he needed to win, but he knew they were going to be in shape, they were going to be mentally ready, be part of the team, and that would help him win the championship. That’s what the superstars want. They don’t want chaos. They don’t want a negative locker room. They don’t want crises all the time. They don’t want players &()((#%*^ about minutes. They want to make sure all those other things are taken care of, and they don’t want to do it… You don’t want to waste your time and lose another year because you’re with an organization that’s not going to make other players accountable to help you become successful.”
As I read Riley’s comments above, the following are 13 Things Superstar Talent Want From Their Leaders:
- Superstar Talent Want Maximum Effort From Those Around Them – “they were going to be in shape”
- Superstar Talent Want Those Around Them To Show Up Ready To Work – “they were going to be mentally ready”
- Superstar Talent Want To Be Part Of A Team – “be part of the team”
- Superstar Talent Want To Win – “would help him win the championship.”
- Superstar Talent Want A Healthy Work Environment – “They don’t want chaos.”
- Superstar Talent Want A Healthy Team Chemistry – “They don’t want a negative locker room.”
- Superstar Talent Want Stability – “They don’t want crises all the time.”
- Superstar Talent Want Unselfish Co-Workers – “They don’t want players &()((#%*^ about minutes.”
- Superstar Talent Want Their Leaders To Solve Problems – “They want to make sure all those other things are taken care of”
- Superstar Talent Want To Be Freed Up To Do What They Do Best – “and they don’t want to do it.”
- Superstar Talent Want To Take Advantage Of Every Opportunity – “You don’t want to waste your time and lose another year”
- For #1-11 To Happen, Superstar Talent Want Their Leaders To Hold Others Accountable – “because you’re with an organization that’s not going to make other players accountable”
- Superstar Talent Want Their Leaders To Help Make Them Successful – “to help you become successful.”
If you want to pick up a copy Thomsen’s book, click HERE and do so. What is one thing you learned from Pat Riley’s comments above which will help you lead superstar talent better?
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