Corrections or additions?
This article by Joe Summers was prepared for the August 16, 2000
edition of U.S. 1 Newspaper. All
rights reserved.
In Basketball, As in Business
Notwithstanding all the corporate tie-ins at the recent
Senior PGA tournament at Jasna Polana, golf is not the only sport
that business people turn to for camaraderie and inspiration. U.S.
1 on several occasions has quoted former Princeton basketball coach
Pete Carril — especially from his book, co-written with Dan White,
“The Smart Take from the Strong.” Duke University alumnus
Joe Summers (Class of 1949), a retired associate dean of graduate
services at Rider University, filed this summary of another insightful
book by a college basketball coach:
Great ideas can come from the least expected sources. Who wouldhave thought a book by a college basketball coach would containnuggetsof management wisdom applicable far from the court? For starters,anyone who follows Duke basketball, because to do that is also tobe aware of Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s philosophy. Not only does hepreachit — he practices it, too.With eight “Final Four” appearances, including back-to-backnational championships in 1991 and ’92, Krzyzewski inspires greatplay from his team and, typically, player-reverence long after theseason. This happens for a reason. He knows how to make his playersfeel special while still part of a team. His graduates thank him forthat.Krzyzewski’s new book, “Leading with the Heart: Coach K’sSuccessfulStrategies for Basketball, Business, and Life,” chronicles hisbackground in a Polish neighborhood of Chicago, where he was guidedby parents who demanded honesty and integrity. The coach reveals hispersonal principles for leadership, from dealing with adversity inlife or on the basketball court, to learning how to trust yourheartfeltinstincts. It deals too with descriptions of how to build an”emotionalbond of trust” that gives his players the confidence and freedomto succeed “both on and off the court.” The result is a bookthat shows how you can be successful in any leadership situation.Each chapter concludes with tips that would apply in the board room,as well as the locker room. A “top 11” of these nuggets follow.Reflecting classic management theory, they are bound to score withmanagement students and practitioners alike.Recruit great individuals who are willing to be part of ateam and are coachable. Always try to get the best people possible,but be sure they will fit in with the rest of your team and arewillingto grow.The level of cooperation on any team increasestremendouslyas the level of trust rises. Mutual respect and trustingrelationshipsare the cornerstones for success on any team.Success is a matter of preparing to win. Careful,detailed,painstaking planning sets up the process that allows you to win.Withoutthis preparation, winning is accidental.Every season is a journey. Live it with exuberance andexcitement. Live it right. In all we do, the process is the key toobtaining a good product.Communication skills are just as important as technicalskills.Most people are unsuccessful on a team or on the job because theycan’t get along with others, not because they lack the skills to dothe work.Two are better than one if two act as one. Inbasketballand life, success is usually a group effort; it seldom comes fromone person’s actions alone.Courage and confidence are what decision-making is allabout.Once all the facts are gathered, be brave, believe in yourself,and make a decision. You’ll probably make the right move.Business, like basketball, is a game of adjustments. Sobe ready to adjust. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin oflittle minds,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. Always be ready tochangeas situations change.Have people around you who will say no to you. If youscreen out all contrary opinions, you’ll probably miss the very pointthat separates success from failure.Always respect your competition. To disrespect yourcompetitionis to disrespect yourself. Keep focused, don’t let up, play the full40 minutes — or 40 hours — all out, always.Find a way to win. This approach separates the championsfrom the very good teams. There is always a way to win, and you mustfind it.In 1992 “The Sporting News” named Coach K sportsmanof the year, making him the first college coach ever to win thathonor.The magazine said, “On the court and off, Krzyzewski is a familyman first, a teacher second, a basketball coach third, and a winnerat all three. He is what’s right about sports.”— Joe SummersPrevious StoryCorrections or additions?This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
