https://youtu.be/yjROlnqMcY8
On Monday, June 12, 2023, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat 94-89 to win the first NBA championship in franchise’s history. During the post-game celebration, ABC’s Lisa Salters interviewed the team’s star, two-time Most Valuable Player and NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic.
In a manner reflective of his personality, when asked how it felt to be a NBA champion, Jokic said in deadpanned fashion, “It’s good. It’s good. The job is done. We can go home now.”
The following are five leadership lessons we learn from Jokic’s statement:
Success Is The Residue Of Hard Work
The NBA Championship is the result of all the hard work the team has put in during this and previous seasons. In my book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders, I wrote, “In my study of Apex Leaders, hard work was the second-most listed trait of people who reach the top of their professions. Hard work is one of my favorite subjects. It is a passion of mine. Hard work is something anyone can do, but only a few choose to do. Nothing of significance happens in a leader’s life apart from hard work.”
For successful leaders like Jokic, success smells a lot like sweat.
Your Best Player/Employee Sets The Tone For The Entire Organization
Jokic is a fundamentally sound, calm, hard working, constantly improving, responsive to coaching, and incredibly generous player. I could have easily used those same words to describe the Denver Nuggets as a team. This is because Jokic is the embodiment of the Nugget’s culture and the picture of the desired destination at which the team wishes to arrive.
Whatever culture you desire for your organization, your top performer must symbolize it. Everyone will follow that person’s lead.
Jeff Van Gundy said, “Your best player has to set a tone of intolerance for anything that gets in the way of winning.”
Work Is Infinite But Simultaneously Has A Conclusion
Oftentimes, you will hear someone say, “I’m going home when the work is done.” Well, there is always something to do. Work is infinite in that regard.
However, projects, seasons, tasks, assignments, and key initiatives have timelines with conclusions. Such is the NBA season. For Jokic and the Nuggets, the season was over. The championship was won. The job was done.
Your occupation will always have something for you to do. But just know all assignments have a life cycle. The job will eventually be done.
“What’s Next” Is The Leader’s Motto
After Jokic won the championship his mind was already on what was next, going home. For successful leaders, yesterday ended last night. Today’s success is tomorrow’s baseline for performance.
Leaders are always taking people somewhere. When they get there, they then lead them onto the next place. Leaders have a holy discontent. They are naturally unsettled.
“What’s next” is the leader’s motto. What was next for Jokic? This leads to the final point.
Family Should Be Prioritized Over Work
Jokic’s wife and daughter have been frequently featured throughout the team’s championship run. When Jokic won the championship, he was not going to Disneyworld. He was going home.
One of my prayers for every leader is their greatest celebrations are not at work or in front of larges crowds, but at home with the ones who know and love them the most. The respect and adulation of my wife and daughter are greater than any awards I have ever won.
I’m confident Nikola Jokic would agree.
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