Sport and the Growing Good #184: Coach Phil Jackson on leading through conflict
All coaches and leaders face conflict in their groups. We never seek conflict or problems, but these times can be defining times for our teams. Leaders need to have skills in leading through conflict. In this session with Coach Jackson, we discussed the research on leading through conflict and gained Coach’s perspectives based on his extensive experiences. We discussed:
1. Circling back to the Shivas Irons quote on coaching as a “serious and solemn act.”
2. Being settled personally before being able to coach a group.
3. “You never can step in the same river twice…Every incident, every process, every relationship with a team is always new.”
4. Being flexible and in the moment.
5. Michael Jordan’s competitiveness and the associated challenges of keeping back-up guards.
6. The Lakers wilting when attempting to finish games. Speaking about it directly. No response from team… so directly addressing it again the next day. Kobe defending himself.
7. “Sleeping on problems.”
8. Anger as “an opportunity.”
9. Team play emphasis when coming through conflict. “We can do this together.”
10. Role modeling during periods of conflict.
11. Having conversations on the team about world events and things going on in society.
12. Getting rid of ego.
13. Demonstrating putting yourself second to players. “I sat in the front of the bus, but I got in the back of the line.”
14. Self-control is a leadership quality.
15. Knowing when to step back as coach. Bill Cartwright’s example of leadership.
16. Narcissism is challenging.
17. Feeling alone as a leader.
18. Taking care of ourselves physically and mentally as leaders.
19. Doing the right thing at the right time. “Appeasing the basketball gods.”
20. Having someone who’s not part of the leadership who can be a valuable sounding board or pressure release.