Good Employees Deserve the Best!
06/17/02
In honor of the Laker's victory in the NBA finals, today we highlight the words of their very successful coach, Phil Jackson. His comments on finding a "middle path" are wise for any leader: "I got to watch him (Red Holzman, former coach of the New York Knicks) very closely. He talked philosophy with me, and he talked about the importance of staying not too high, not too low and not letting victories or defeats send you tumbling one way or the other. He believed in what was called the middle path. He had the ability to handle individuals and make them play as a group."
Change leaders do not get too engrossed in setbacks, nor do they get too excited about the latest victory. They know the importance of moving beyond a good year to create a sustainable dynasty that wins victory after victory. They know the true optimism that comes from building a track record of bouncing back from even the worst days. Coach Jackson is not known for over-coaching or micro-managing his players; he lets them play through the tough runs to gain confidence in their own abilities to bounce back. In short, a good coach or leader is a "perspective leveler." Instead of overreacting to bad plays, such leaders know how to encourage and believe in the team through the bad times. Instead of setting the stage for complacency, they know how to raise the bar when a team starts to think that they are better than they are. Humility and Confidence--the truth again lies in managing that tension for sustained results. Good leaders know how to manage that tension to find that valuable "middle path." This week, try two questions: Who do I need to encourage out of the tough times? Who do I need to challenge out of complacency?
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
My good friend, Bill Bradley, continues to send me horrible puns, and there comes a point you have to give in to my valued "punsters" in my e-mail audience. Enjoy:
1. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
2. If you don't pay your exorcist you get repossessed.
3. When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.
4. Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.
5. A lot of money is tainted. It taint yours and it taint mine.
6. He had a photographic memory that was never developed.
7. When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
8. Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...