Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 664 - "Show Up Don’t Show Off" (Daniel Coyle and John Wooden)


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 13	Issue 664
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"SHOW UP DON’T SHOW OFF" (DANIEL COYLE AND JOHN WOODEN) John Wooden Video Clip (1 min. 54 sec.): Coach Wooden is asked how he met his wife, Nellie? Great leaders always show up, but they never show off. Great leaders do not draw attention to themselves or engage in false humility. Coach Wooden said false humility is as bad as false pride. His advice was simple: if you receive a compliment you deserve, simply say thank you. A great leader recognizes his or her mistakes and fears. This creates trust and a comfortable team atmosphere. In his book, The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle gives a notable example of such a leader: "Danny Meyer is the founder of Union Square Cafe, Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, and several other restaurants that together are worth more than a billion dollars. Meyer conducted a staff meeting to watch his first-ever TED Talk. The staff meeting began with the group watching a video of Meyer’s speech. Then the lights went up, and Meyer spoke. "Can you see my leg shaking?" he asked the group. "I was so nervous; I was shaking like a leaf. I slept about three hours the night before, which is why I have those bags under my eyes. We had a terrible rehearsal. It was almost a complete disaster. I was lucky enough to have brilliant help." He paused and pointed. "Thanks, Chip and Haley. They made the whole thing work. They kept me together." Everyone looked at Chip and Haley and gave a short round of applause while Meyer looked on approvingly. Meyer delivered the message—I was scared—with steadiness, confidence, and comfort that underlined the deeper message: It’s safe to tell the truth here. His vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s his strength. Do you show off? Click here for personal development exercise: Issue 664. Click here for Printable Poetry: Issue 664. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Follow @woodenswisdom	COACH'S FAVORITE POETRY AND PROSE A Place At The Top There’s a place for you at the top, my boy, Are you willing to try to get it? It's true that trouble will try to stop Your efforts, but will you let it? The road is long and the path is rough, Designed for men of the proper stuff, And you can't get by with a common bluff, For the way is barred to bluffers. And ever and ever the weak drop out, But the strong keep going with courage stout; They may taste defeat, but never rout, But it's worth all a fighter suffers. Up there at the top there 's a place for you, You may earn it or let it go; And the world won't care which of these you do, It's up to yourself to show Whether you can battle with fate and wrong, And take hard luck when it comes along With a nervy grin or a bit of song Or stop with the quitters tamely. There's room at the top; you can get there, too, If you 're ready to fight your own way through. The odds are heavy, I know, but you Can win, if you'll face them gamely. Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959)
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