1. Be yourself. But work every day to become a better version of yourself. That might mean better communicator, better teacher, better listener, more knowledge, better psychologist, or a combination. I can't be Dean Smith, John Wooden, Pete Newell, Red Auerbach, Geno Auriemma, Doc Rivers, John Thompson, Jack Clark, Anson Dorrance, Bob Knight, or Pat Summitt. I can study their best personal, technical, and tactical qualities and adopt some of them.
2. Add value. Give the team and the individual player what they need at the moment. That means asking the right questions at the right time. How are we "performance-focused and feedback rich?"
3. "Never be a child's last coach." Leadership relates to effectiveness. A kind word can last a lifetime and thoughtlessness can leave indelible scars. Think back to mentors who made a difference and how that changed you. Has anyone changed your life by saying "I believe in you?"
4. Seek wisdom over knowledge. It's not what we know but what we share that matters. How do we make our teams and players 'antifragile'?
5. Ego is the enemy. Don't let ego destroy you, your family, your relationships, or your team. Teach with purpose and seek balance. "Are we building a statue or a program?" Stay hungry and stay humble. Ego prevails when common sense ends and selfishness corrupts.
