Becoming a better leader

John Wooden

John Wooden coached men's basketball team at the University of California at Los Angeles to 10 NCAA championships from 1964 to 1975, winning seven in a row. He retired in 1975 and continues to influence people as a motivational speaker. The UCLA Anderson School of Management gave its first John Wooden Global Leadership Award to Howard Schultz, Starbucks president and chief executive officer. The award will be given annually to a business executive who reflects the coach's leadership values. Wooden offered the Los Angeles Times 10 tips for how business owners can become better leaders.

1|Listen
One thing that is often overlooked in leadership is the ability to listen. Listening is so important to those under
your supervision.

2|Care
Make those under your supervision feel that you care for them, not just for the job they are doing for you, but you really care for them personally. You just can't tell them you do that, you have to show it. While some roles aren't as big or in the forefront as others, they are still important. You must make every person feel that they are needed.

3|Recognize
When I was teaching in high school in basketball, for example, [I taught that] my players must never score without thanking someone. Don't run over and shake their hand but look at them and give them a little sign or something of appreciation. Everybody likes to have a pat on the back.

4|Prepare
[Managers should be aware of] preparation for whatever their job is, little or big, preparation is so important. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

5|Be industrious
Nothing can be accomplished without work. If you are looking for the shortcut, if you are looking for the easy way, if you are looking for the trick to get things done, you might get them done. But you are not adding strength, you are not building.

6|Have enthusiasm
If you don't enjoy what you are doing, you are not going to be able to give it the industriousness that you should have. You must have that to inspire others to do their best.

7|Be patient
Good things take time. And that's the way it should be. I think that is an important thing that a leader must get across to those under his supervision.

8|Have confidence
You must believe in yourself. If you don't have confidence in yourself, you can't expect those under your supervision to act with much confidence.

9|Don't fear failure
Have initiative but don't be afraid of failure. We are all going to fail at times because we are all imperfect. When I had assistants, I always wanted them never to be afraid to make a suggestion. We don't know a thing we don't learn from somebody else in one way or another. If you do agree [with their suggestion] and use it and it works, be sure that they are the one that gets the credit, not you. Now if it doesn't work, you take the blame because you made that decision to use it.

10|Win respect
You have to have the respect of those under your supervision. You can't obtain that respect unless you are honest with them and they can depend upon you. Don't try to sell them a bill of goods or you will lose all respect.

Credit: Los Angeles Times