7 Legendary Lessons In Leadership From Phil Jackson
Unforgettable lessons from the “Zen Master”
Phil Jackson is considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the NBA. Jackson currently has the highest winning percentage of any Hall of Fame coach. Along with his NBA-record 11 championships, he is the only coach to win at least 10 championships in any of North America’s major professional sports.
In the basketball world, Phil Jackson is often referred to as the “zen master”. His unique coaching practices integrated meditation, Buddhism, and other spiritual traditions.
Let’s be honest, usually when we think about sports coaches, we envision them implementing a sense of intimidation or coercion. We view them similar to a drill sergeant, getting their team to fall in line and perform so as to not let everyone else down. They frequently use the fear of failure to get their team to perform well.
This is why Jackson’s tactics are so legendary, as he steered away from the stereotypical alpha leadership model we see so frequently in sports.
His lessons in leadership and a team’s performance can be implemented throughout our work and also our lives.
1. One Breath, One Mind
Jackson started doing his famous “One Team, One Breath” policy when he wanted to bring consciousness and mindfulness to the LA Lakers.
By meditating in unison, players could cultivate a type of ‘group consciousness’ and a feeling of interconnectedness with each other.
Good teams always learn how to work cohesively as a group, because often “the whole adds up to more than the sum of its parts.” The goal is to bring everyone into harmony and oneness.
“As much as we pump iron and we run to build our strength up, we need to build our mental strength up, so we can focus, so we can be in concert with one another.”
2. Understanding different roles
It takes more than just raw talent to build a championship team.
We must recognise exactly what each individual team member contributes, and how their contributions fit into the bigger picture. This also allows us to bring out the best in one another by giving each member a space to unleash their natural, individual abilities.
A good leader doesn’t just know the strengths of individual players, but knows where each of the strengths should be played to better enhance one another.
“What matters most is playing the game the right way and having the courage to grow, as human beings as well as basketball players. When you do that, the ring takes care of itself.”
3. Sharing authority
Rather than being a ‘control freak’ type of leader, try and cultivate every player’s inner leader (allowing them some degree of control and power).
A great leader cultivates many ‘good leaders’.
“After years of experimenting, I discovered that the more I tried to exert power directly, the less powerful I became. I learned to dial back my ego and distribute power as widely as possible without surrendering final authority.
The most effective approach is to delegate authority as much as possible and to nurture everyone else’s leadership skills as well. When I’m able to do that, it not only builds team unity and allows others to grow but also — paradoxically — strengthens my role as a leader.”
4. Treating wins and losses in the same way
After a loss, Jackson was once asked by a reporter what he would do after leaving the arena. He was then asked what he would do if he had won instead. His answer was the same for both scenarios — he would go home, have a drink, and eat the dinner his wife had prepared for him.
Jackson always wanted to show that one should stay level-headed, whether they won or lost.
“We should absorb this moment, I told the team, because losing is as much a part of the game as winning — and I really meant it. “Today they beat us,” I said. “We we not defeated.”
Neither outcome should alter an individual too much or for too long.
No single loss or win will define you as an individual — feelings are only temporary. Sadness from a loss and happiness from a win — neither of things define you and neither of those feelings will dominate your emotions for very long.
Individual losses and wins don’t change the bigger picture.
“In basketball — as in life — true joy comes from being fully present in each and every moment, not just when things are going your way. Of course, it’s no accident that things are more likely to go your way when you stop worrying about whether you’re going to win or lose and focus your full attention on what’s happening right this moment.”
5. The importance of pre-game rituals
Pre-game rituals are important to getting a team ‘ready for battle’.
In general, rituals are great for fostering group-bonding and preparing a team mentally and emotionally to complete their mission. This is why rituals are also used throughout many religions and spiritual traditions to help create a sense of community and belonging.
In pre-game sessions led by a mindfulness teacher, Jackson would have his team practice deep breathing in unison, getting them to sync all of their breaths as one. He would often burn incense during the sessions to set the mood.
“Another lesson I learned was about the importance of pregame rituas. This is not a good time for deep left-brain discussions. It’s the moment to calm the players’ minds and strengthen their spiritual connection with one another before they head into battle.”
6. Your enemy is a gift
Jackson implemented what the Dalai Lama calls “the enemy’s gift.” He wanted his team to see each enemy as a gift, because one’s opponents can bring out the best in you.
Good teams use their “enemies” as fuel to strive harder and go further. The presence of an opponent ensures we are kept on our toes and don’t become complacent, so long as we remain humble enough to take notice.
7. Stop chasing a ‘winning formula’
Instead of chasing a “winning formula”, we should instead opt to continuously adapt.
In a world that is constantly changing, there is no such thing as a “winning formula”. What once led you towards success in the past may not lead to your success in the future.
You need to be willing to take what worked, and continue to evolve.
Great leaders are more focused on making those around them great, evident in Jackson’s successes, and the successes of his teams. True leadership is about learning to lead “from the inside out,” and being authentic with your inner voice, learning to take criticism and remaining self-aware.
Phil Jackson forever changed the role of basketball coach, and it is clear that his lessons in leadership can be implemented in both our work and our lives.
