Training Leadership Skills*

"Leaders make leaders."

Ask whether we're coaching basketball or life. Coaching sport shares a subset of life skills for school, business, or other work. 

The "right way" is what works to develop skill, inclusiveness (buy in), critical thinking (strategy), resilience, and so on. 

Indra Nooyi was the former CEO of Pepsi and ranked 13th among the most powerful women of the world. Her MasterClass shares her leadership framework.

Image from MasterClass

To lead others, first lead ourselves. Character drives the process. Train leaders by modeling excellence consistently. "Your actions speak so loudly that I cannot hear a word you say."

Note the overlap with "You Win the Locker Room First" by Mike Smith and Jon Gordon or Etorre Messina's advice, "Character is job one."  

Nooyi shares the Kipling poem of "Six Honest Serving Men" with the emphasis to ask questions. 

Here are a few notes (above). 

Charles Barkley asked the question, "what is your NBA skill?" Nooyi's would be, "what is your MBA skill?" How can you translate 'know that', what you learned into 'know how' action that drives corporate edge forward. 

Don't apply NBA statistics to adolescents and expect the same results. Differences in knowledge, skill, and experience matter. I knew a doctor who boasted he could keep anyone alive for twenty-four hours until he encountered Gulf War trauma patients. Know your 'Circle of Competence'. 

There's no easy answer. Even the best plan will meet obstacles and resistance and may not survive contact with opposition. Mike Tyson said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." 

Summary:

• Actions speak volumes.
• "Character is job one."
• What is your MBA skill?
• Don't apply NBA statistics to adolescents.
• Know your 'Circle of Competence'

Lagniappe. Work at improving our decision-making skill. 

Most people suck at decision-making.

Let's change that.

Here are 15 of the best decision-making mental models I've found:

— Alex Brogan (@_alexbrogan) October 20, 2022

Lagniappe 2. "If you're a basketball player, you come ready." 

"Don't expect a pat on the back for merely doing your job, but know that you'll get one for doing it exceptionally well."-Lea Salonga
Meeting expectations is the minimum requirement. Stop meeting expectations & expecting maximum results. To get more-to be more, you must do more. pic.twitter.com/HRX4MgiUWW

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) October 21, 2022

*Adapted from MasterClass, "Leading with Purpose" by Indra Nooyi