Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 101 - The Leader has faith in people. He believes in them, trusts them, and thus draws out the best in them.)


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 2	Issue 101
Craig Impelman Speaking \| Championship Coaches \| Champion's Leadership Library Login
THE LEADER HAS FAITH IN PEOPLE. HE BELIEVES IN THEM, TRUSTS THEM, AND THUS DRAWS OUT THE BEST IN THEM These are ideas from an essay The Art of Leadership in the book The Art of Living by Wilfred A. Peterson, Coach Wooden’s favorite text on Leadership. A leader displays faith in people by encouraging them to make decisions. From a basketball perspective, Coach learned from his college coach, Piggy Lambert, that players should be trained properly in the fundamentals and then given the leeway to make decisions on their own. He wanted his players to act when action was needed, not look at the bench for permission or instructions. This demonstrated faith, trust and brought out the best in the team because the players played with confidence. In his book with Don Yaeger, A Game Plan for Life, Coach recounted an episode with Piggy Lambert which taught him the core leadership value of having faith and trust in people: One day, toward the end of my sophomore year, Coach Lambert called me into his office to let me know that a certain prominent doctor in town wanted to sponsor me, covering my expenses so I wouldn’t have to work. The stringent rules about collegiate athletes receiving gifts didn’t really exist then, so the offer was perfectly legal. Coach Lambert laid out the doctor’s proposal before me and asked what I thought about it. “What does he want me to do to pay him back?” “Nothing,” Coach said. “He just likes you and wants to help you out.” He knew what it would mean to me if I didn’t have to work: No more waiting tables at fraternity houses for fifty dollars a month to cover the tuition, room and board, and other expenses. After thinking it over for a few days, I returned to Coach’s office. “I’ve got along all right thus far,” I told him. “So I guess I’m going to turn it down.” I’ll never forget how Coach Lambert responded to that: He smiled and said, “I knew you’d say that.” I think he understood how important my pride was, and how I had been raised to never be beholden to anyone else. By laying out the terms of the agreement before me, he allowed me to see what was out there for me, but to also make the decision on my own. It was exactly the kind of guidance and trust I needed. I left that day feeling I had just experienced an incredible lesson in coach - player interaction. Coach Lambert had shown that he believed me mature enough to make the right decision, rather than the easy one. As Abraham Lincoln said: The worst thing you can do for those you love is to do the things they could and should do for themselves. I believe making decisions is on that list. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Twitter: @woodenswisdom	COACH'S Favorite Poetry AND PROSE Aien Aristeuein (Motto of St. Andrews University) Ever to be the best. To lead In whatsoever things are true; Not stand among the halting crew The faint of heart, the feeble-kneed, Who tarry for a certain sign To make them follow with the rest -- Oh, let not their reproach be thine! But ever be the best. For want of this aspiring soul, Great deeds on earth remain undone, But, sharpened by the sight of one, Many shall press toward the goal, Thou running foremost of the throng, The fire of striving in thy breast, Shalt win, although the race be long, And ever be the best. And wilt thou question of the prize? 'Tis not of silver or of gold, Nor in applauses manifold, But hidden in the heart it lies. To know that but for thee not one Had run the race or sought the quest, To know that thou hast ever done And ever been the best. Robert Fuller Murray
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