Pat Williams is Senior Vice-President of the Orlando Magic, which he helped co-found in 1987. In 1996, he was named one of the 50 most influential people in NBA history. Here are notes from Pat’s seven keys to effective leadership:
1. Have Vision. Leadership is always about the future, always about change. Your vision will help you stay focused. It keeps you from drifting, wandering, and getting distracted. It keeps you fueled, passionate, and excited. Leadership is about finishing, and a clear vision helps you get to the finish line.
2. Communication. Vision must be compelling and it must be communicated with optimism. “Optimism is a choice – a powerful one,” observed Ronald Reagan. “Perpetual Optimism is a force multiplier,” says Colin Powell. Vision must convey hope and inspiration. People can’t live without hope. They can’t follow without inspiration.
3. People Skills. Great leaders love people. They enjoy spending time with them, lifting morale, encouraging spirits, and empowering minds. George Washington never left his troops. Hal Moore was the first one on the battlefield, and the last one off. Jesus never abandoned his followers. Good leaders are not just good communicators, they are also good listeners. You can’t listen if you aren’t spending time with people.
4. Character Counts. “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved,” wrote Helen Keller. Coach Wooden liked to say, “Reputation is what other people think you are. Character is what you really are when no one’s watching.” Integrity is about consistency in character – when the walk and talk match. Great leaders have humility in their character. Billy Graham’s daughter once said, “In Daddy’s mind, he’s still just a farm boy from North Carolina.”
5. Competence. Leaders must be problem solvers. “Leadership is about solving problems. When people no longer bring you their problems, you are no longer leading,” Colin Powell rightly assesses. Your ability to put a team together is critical. Leaders must also be able to teach people. Vince Lombardi noted, “They call it coaching, but it’s really teaching.”
6. Boldness. At the end of the day, leaders have to make decisions. If you are looking for a cushy life, don’t be a leader. They have to make tough decisions, stand by them, and live with the results. This takes guts. It takes boldness. It takes risks. But it’s the birthmark of a leader. They make the tough calls.
7. A Serving Heart. To be a leader of the ages, to be a leader that’s never forgotten, you need to serve. It’s not how many people are following that makes a leader great, it’s how well he or she is serving other people. Great leaders understand they aren’t given a role due to entitlement, they are here to build people. And you can’t build people if you don’t serve them. Leadership isn’t about wooing the masses, and it’s not about a popularity contest. True, character-based, Christ-like leadership involves serving others. Mother Teresa wisely admonished, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Do it… serve someone today.
