https://youtu.be/KBnA1RiV198
I work with a lot of well-known leaders. All have platforms of hundreds or thousands of people. Some would even be classified as famous. But none are as famous as LeBron James.
Here is what I have learned about these type of leaders. Everyone seemingly wants something from them. They want a piece of them. They want insider information. They want them to support and advance their products or agendas. Sometimes it is like we are back in high school and people just want to hang out at the cool kids table.
If you get nothing else from this post, remember this – Everyone wants something from Apex Leaders. Few people give them anything.
Back to LeBron James. One of my favorite moments of the 2017-2018 season occurred in the video above. After continually getting pelted by the media for no practical reason, James was ambushed by Paolo from ESPN Brazil. However it was not a traditional ambush from the media. It was actually an ambush of kindness.
As Paolo asked about LeBron’s clutch performances throughout his career, we glean 14 Lessons On Gaining Influence With LeBron James and other Apex Leaders. This is a clinic on how to deal with leaders like James.
- Apex Leaders Have Little Use For Activities Which Add No Value And Do Not Advance The Mission And Vision Of Their Organization – Notice in the first five seconds of the video how LeBron is absolutely disinterested.
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Respect Them And Their Contributions – Paolo pointed out, “When the going gets tough, you’re always hitting.”
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Build A Personal Relationship First – After receiving the compliment, James asks the reporter, “What is your name?”
- LeBron James And Other Apex Leaders Appreciate Those Who Respect Them – “Appreciate you, saying I’ve been clutch my whole career. There’s not many like you I tell you.”
- LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Give Their Full Attention To Those Who Respect Their Contributions – At the :23 second mark the previously bored LeBron James does a complete turn and is now fully engaged.
- You Know You Are Gaining Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders When They Begin To Joke With You – “You’re being very kind because it’s either National Wine Day or I love Brazil.”
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Respect Their Teammates – “First, my teammates, my coaching staff, have given me the reigns to take the shot or make the play late in games.”
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Acknowledge The Price They Have Paid For Success – “I’ve haven’t always done it in my whole career but I’ve never shied away from it.”
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Your Job With Excellence – “I was taught the game the right way.”
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Value What They Value… Others – “My coach at the banquet gave everyone an MVP trophy. I knew right then this was a team game.”
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Be Consistent – “The second year we won it again and we all got an MVP trophies again. It’s been instilled in me since I was nine years old.
- When You Show Respect And Are Kind To Apex Leaders Like LeBron James You Get Additional Access – At 2:30 Paolo got to ask a second question.
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Value Their Families – “I love being a husband now.”
- To Gain Influence With LeBron James and Other Apex Leaders Honor Their Personal Journey – “So you learn and you grow and you know what’s best for you as you get older.”
Now let’s contrast the interview with Paolo with the one shown below from September 24th. A reporter asked James what he could do to earn the Lakers’ fans loyalty and respect. I don’t know. I guess 4 MVPs, 3 NBA championships, 14 All-Star appearances, 5-times All-Defensive teams, 2 Olympic gold medals, the 2017 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, and opening a school were not enough. I can only imagine what LeBron was really thinking. I bet it was, “Where’s Paolo from Brazil when you need him.”
https://youtu.be/cbrTUVzw794
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