The following are 5 recent lessons on developing leadership expertise:
Be An EXPERT At The Task ASSIGNED
This speaks to focus.
In his CoachTube.com masterclass, Indiana Pacers assistant coach Mike Weiner made a powerful comment. He said, “(Be an) Expert in the room at the task assigned. You’re not going to be an expert at everything, no matter how smart we think we all are or not. You’re never going to be an expert at everything. That’s why basketball coaches have assistant coaches assigned to other things. But whatever task that is, especially if you’re an assistant coach, be an expert at that task you’ve been assigned.”
Whatever you have been assigned, however important or insignificant the assignment may seem, become an expert at that specific task and learn everything you can.
Chet Kapoor, chairman and CEO of DataStax, started as an intern for Steve Jobs and NeXT. He told CNBC, “Steve was this iconic individual and I didn’t know him … I was the guy that got coffee for the guy that made coffee.”
But no job was too small was Kapoor. He maximized the opportunity, learned everything he could, and ultimately became the CEO of one of the top data companies in the world.
Experts Are Disciplined So They Don’t Waste Opportunities
Speaking of leaders who maximize opportunities, let’s discuss New York Yankees superstar Juan Soto.
In this The Athletic article, manager Aaron Boone said, “Literally every pitch is theater. That’s been fun to witness. Obviously how good he is and how disciplined he is at his craft but just the relentless nature of his at-bats. I’ve heard all my life how this guy never gives an at-bat away. Juan embodies that. He doesn’t give a pitch away. Every pitch, you kind of hold your breath a little bit.”
Soto teaches us a very important leadership truth – Maximizing every opportunity requires discipline and never wasting moments.
Discipline is a skill have experts have. They can take a mile with just an inch of space. To watch Soto’s expertise in action, watch the highlights from his two-home run game this past Saturday.
Experts Know Every New Level Has A New Devil
Another baseball player, New York Mets outfielder J.D. Martinez was recently doing a rehab assignment at the team’s Triple A affiliate. The team’s coach asked him how he was feeling when he took his at-bats. Per this The Athletic article, he said, “OK. But I haven’t seen any velocity.”
Martinez added, “It’s hard to replicate the stuff up here. That’s why you see so many of these kids get called up and struggle. This is where the dawgs come. This is the big boy league.”
Smart leaders know that as they rise through an organization, new and more difficult challenges will arise.
Yesterday’s success got you today’s opportunity, but it will not ensure tomorrow’s success. Every new level has a new devil.
Experts Gather Information Before Making Decisions
New York City mayor Eric Adams probably never dreamed he would be facing this particular “devil” when he occupied office. The pest control company Orkin now ranks NYC as the city with the third most rats in America. Just to be clear, we’re talking about the rodents, not his political opponents!
So what is a mayor to do?
Per this article, on September 18 and 19, the city will host the inaugural Urban Rat Summit, gathering experts from around the country in hopes of solving the problem.
This is a brilliant move by Mayor Adams which all leaders can learn from. He knows all smart leaders gather information at one level and then make decisions at another.
Sun Tzu teaches, “The best way to defeat our enemy is to know our enemy.” Mayor Adams is attempting to become an expert by knowing his.
Experts Love Their Craft
Love is what moves a person from elite leadership to understanding the essence of leadership.
On Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-116 to advance to the Western Conference finals. But it was the comment below from the team’s superstar forward Luka Doncic from earlier in the series I want to address.
After the team’s Game 5 104-92 victory, the superstar forward told TNT Sports, “I just tried to play basketball. Just focus on basketball. Sometimes I forgot this is the thing I love, this is the thing I do. My mental focus was to just go out there and play basketball with a smile on my face and just go.”
Luka’s love for his craft, along with some very talented teammates and coaches, changed his perspective and propelled his team to victory.
Perhaps the same could happen to your organization if you love it.
Conclusion
If you want to be an expert at your craft:
- Focus on becoming an expert on the task you are assigned.
- Be disciplined so you don’t waste opportunities.
- Know what made you a success today will not make you a success tomorrow.
- Gather information before making decision.
- And know LOVE is the glue which holds it all together.
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