Doc Rivers — A Symbol of Leadership
Doc Rivers — Featured in ‘The Playbook’
The Coach Who Spoke Leadership
1. DETERMINATION — FINISH THE RACE YOU STARTED
When his teacher asked him what he wanted to be when he was a kid, he wrote “Pro Basketball Player.” He was asked to be realistic, and the teacher would ask him to rewrite the goal. His father agreed with the teacher, but added, “It’s a fantastic goal.” Whatever goal you have, and it’s too early to set one right now, but when you do, just finish the race.
2. RESILIENCE — DON’T MAKE YOURSELF THE VICTIM.
Doc Rivers has been in the game for 37 years and continues to work hard every day. Hard work is a given if you want to be at the top of your game — he, too, misses kids’ stuff, misses things even when at kids’ events — thinking about basketball plays. It’s difficult. His parents taught him not only to work hard and to pick himself up no matter what life throws at him, but also “not to be someone else’s victim.”
On the eve of a playoff game [following his boss’ (Clippers owner) racist comments], it came down to making a decision and ensuring that no one could distract you from your goal. Doc and the players were expected to boycott the game; instead, they planned their own protest, made a statement on centre court before the game, and then returned to play.
We continue to witness power abuse in our startup ecosystem on a daily basis. We were charged with the responsibility of outperforming the old capitalists. However, there are more cheap shots. Aren’t we smarter than that? There are market forces that I follow and respect. This does not give players with capital and influence the right to abuse those advantages. And if you’re on the other side of this, remember: “Don’t be a Victim.”
3. UBUNTU — UBUNTU
Getting Garnett, Allen and Pierce in the mega trade, mid season in 2007, at Boston Celtics was great for a team with a losing record, but could’ve easily turned into a game of egos and mismatches of the 3 superstars.
“If we are to win, we must make sacrifices.”
He received a tip from a Celtics fan. “Doc, you guys are going to do it; all you have to do is practise Ubuntu,” she said. Ubuntu is not a word; look it up and become it.” It’s an attitude! It is the essence of what it means to be human. A person is a person because of others. (With their Apartheid masters, Mandela and Tutu preached and practised it in order to resurrect South Africa.)
The team began using Ubuntu, even if Doc still can’t pronounce it correctly:-). The following year, that team won the NBA championship. Culture, goal obsession, and playing to strengths for the team are all important, but they must all come together if you want to be the best. Culture can be even more powerful in large organisations, outlasting the original protagonists.
4. MENTAL STRENGTH — BEING UNDER PRESSURE IS A GIFT
Run away from pressure, expectations, and legacy! Doc needed to inspire his superstars to win the championship rather than just dream about it. He had the arena’s management install a light that shone on a vacant spot, implying that it must be filled with a championship banner. Winners raise expectations, and then raise them even higher, much like the Celtics shine a large spotlight on an empty spot on the wall. As Doc says, being in that position — even having a chance of success — is a privilege. It is a privilege to be under pressure!
5. EFFICIENT PERSEVERANCE — MOVE FORWARD, LIKE CHAMPIONS DO.
Champions are hit over and over again. Champions must decide how far they are willing to go before proceeding. How do you come back from a 24 point deficit in the NBA Finals against the Lakers in 2008? Doc suggested cutting a 24-point lead by 5–6 points each time, first to 18, then to 12, then to 8, then to 4 to 2.
When they cut it to two minutes, Jack Nicholson (a devoted LA Lakers courtside front bencher) exclaimed, “We are Dead Men Walking” (referring to LA Lakers). Doc claims it was his favourite line of the season. There was no turning back now. The team ended up playing for each other as a result of the sacrifices made in order to win! The Boston Celtics were the NBA champions in 2008.
Some good words from Doc.
“Don’t get too close to them.” | ”Yeah — get close to them.”
“And the reason they said that is ’cause you’re gonna get your heart broken. They will let you down ``’’We are never going to be victims.”
“Your job is to coach ’em. Your job is to make them better players, better people, better teammates. How to be tough, how to be compassionate, how to be a good winner, how to be a good loser, if there’s such a thing. “
“I’m not going to coach you to who you are, I’m going to coach you to who you should be someday. “
