If you want to get different results from everyone else, you are going to have to do things different than everyone else. You are going to have to think differently than everyone else. The best leaders know and do things others do not.
Recently, I was reminded of these facts as I was going through some old files.
The following are 7 Counter-Intuitive Things The Best Leaders Know Which Others Do Not which I gleaned from past issues of Sports Illustrated:
May 7
- The Best Leaders Create The Best Work Environments – “From the opulence of the facilities; to the bronze statues of Bear Bryant and the other legends; to Nick Saban’s office, which has the aura of a museum – you’ve arrived at the epitome of big-time college football.” – Erick Rasco
- The Best Leaders Are Often Insecure Leaders – “You don’t ever tell me you love me! And you say, ‘Baby, you know I love you!’ And she says, ‘Yeah well, I need to hear it sometimes!’ Basketball players are the same way. We need to hear it sometimes.” – Houston Rockets guard Gerald Green
- The Best Leaders Know Confidence Is The Most Potent Performance Enhancer There Is – “I want Chris [Paul] and James [Harden] to dominate, so they feel good. I don’t want anybody putting doubt in their mind.” – Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni
June 18
- The Best Leaders Know Success Often Brings A Sense Of Relief Rather Than A Sense Of Satisfaction – “The feeling of accomplishment is something I’ve worked very hard for. I feel so many different emotions but kind of a relief in a way.” – 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power
- The Best Leaders Know Winning Is The End Result Of The Right Process – “You don’t get mad when something goes wrong. You think about executing each little increment. [There] shouldn’t even be a thought of winning because that’s the end result of the right process.” – Power
July 16
- The Best Leaders Know How To Steward Their Time And Influence. Kings Talk To Kings – “Magic was Magic, but he was also Earvin. It wasn’t a pitch. It was just a conversation: ‘Here’s who I am. Here’s what we do. Here’s the culture we stand for. Here’s what we’re trying to accomplish. Here’s how we look at you. Here’s how we value you.” – Rich Paul on how Magic Johnson recruited LeBron James. For more on this read 5 Reasons LeBron James Chose The Los Angeles Lakers And Why It Matters To All Leaders.
- The Best Leaders Are Often The Smartest Leaders – “In order to win, you’ve got to have talent, but you’ve got to be very cerebral. Listen, we’re all NBA players. Everybody knows how to put the ball in the hoop. But who can think throughout the course of the game?” – James
What is one thing you learned from the list above which will make you a better leader?
Click HERE or on the image to the left and as a free gift for subscribing to this site, you can receive my new Ebook 1269 Leadership Quotes: Timeless Truths From 2016’s Top Christian Leadership Conferences. Featured are the Johnny Hunt Mens Conference, ReThink Leadership, Orange and Leadercast Conferences among others. If applied, these insights will make you an exponentially better leader. Enjoy!!!