Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 684 - "The Enthusiastic Introvert"


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 13	Issue 684
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"THE ENTHUSIASTIC INTROVERT" John Wooden Video Clip (1 min. 32 sec.): Coach Wooden is asked: "What is the significance of doing your personal best?" As a leader, do not assume because somebody is quiet during a discussion that they are not listening or enthusiastic. Great leaders draw ideas from everybody. Sometimes asking everybody to write their ideas down in advance is helpful. This eliminates forced peer pressured "group think" and enables everybody to think creatively before attempting to collaborate. Steve Wozniak built one of the first versions of a personal computer in isolation before presenting his product to what would become Apple. In his book, Wooden on Leadership, Coach Wooden described different forms of enthusiasm: "Enthusiasm comes from within and is expressed in different ways. It is not necessarily jumping up and down and making a lot of noise. My high school coach, Glenn Curtis, was very demonstrative in expressing his Enthusiasm. Ward "Piggy" Lambert, my great coach at Purdue, had a very controlled, intense manner. Both men, however, had genuine enthusiasm. Enthusiasm can stimulate others. I've often used it, but in moderation. Extreme highs do not work. Quiet enthusiasm exudes confidence and rubs off in wonderful ways." Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Marie Curie , Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci , Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Belichick, Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich, Joe Torre, Sparky Anderson, Pat Summitt, Vince Lombardi, John Wooden, Nick Saban and Dawn Staley all have something in common. All these people are regarded as having a strong introverted side to their personalities. The word "introvert" is sometimes misused as having a negative connation (too shy). Introverts often excel with their thoughtfulness, discipline, and quiet confidence as a stabilizing force, inspiring trust and respect. As I was analyzing the complexity of extroversion and introversion, my wife Christy (Coach Wooden’s granddaughter) gave me some great input: "Don’t try to be too much of anything." What are you trying to be "too much of"? Click here for personal development exercise: Issue 684. Click here for Printable Poetry: Issue 684. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Follow @woodenswisdom	COACH'S FAVORITE POETRY AND PROSE The Song of Loved Ones The father toils at his work all day, And he hums this song as he plods away: 'Heigho! for the mother and babe of three Who watch at the window each night for me. Their smiles are ever before my eyes, And never the sound of their voices dies, But ever and ever they seem to say, 'Love waits for you at the close of day.'' At home, a mother is heard to croon To a little babe, this simple tune: 'Heigho! for the father who toils to-day, He thinks of us, though he's far away; He soon will come with a happy tread, And stooping over your trundle bed, Your little worries he'll kiss away; Love comes to us at the close of day.' Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959)
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