Hard Court Leadership Lessons

Secure Leadership

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:42:18 PST

Insecure Leaders Need Not Apply

I recall once delivering a leadership workshop on self esteem to a group of about 12-15 youth. They were all fairly early in the professional working careers so I was a bit surprised at their reaction when the topic of workplace challenges was raised.

Judging by their responses, I would have thought they were grizzled vets that had been in the workforce for 30+ years and couldn't wait to retire.

I listened to them talk about how de-motivating and challenging it is to work for a micro manager, the dis-empowered feeling they were left with because of not being able to make their own decisions and how unimportant they often times felt when their opinions were constantly second guessed.

It turned out to be a very spirited discussion and the general theme that continued to surface was that trust goes a long way in helping people feel good about the work envirnoment.

Without a Secure Leader at the helm, the work experience is less then enjoyable.

While some leaders have seemingly mastered the art of being that untrusting boss, there are others who are less intentional about their actions and are simply driven by their own personal insecurities.

These insecurities are generally based upon perceived situations or circumstances that often times materialize in the form of suspicions, doubts, uncertainties or fears.

What often follows is a series of unexplainable decisions or actions devoid of any kind of logic or reasonable rationale and leaves onlookers scratching their heads as they try to make sense of things.

The biggest problem with this approach is that it does nothing to inspire, motivate or encourage the people they're leading. These insecure leaders become so self absorbed and reactionary that they start to move further and further away from the things a leader ought to be doing.

Perhaps you've had the misfortune of being led by an insecure leader who lacked confident and therefore scrutinized your every decision?

Maybe transparency was the issue and there always seemed to be "closed" door meetings taking place with a select few?

Or perhaps you weren't assigned tasks because doubts existed whether or not you could "handle" the assignment?

Whatever your situation, the bottom line is that insecurity and leadership don't mix because it does very little to inspire confidence, instill trust and deliver results.

So, what kinds if things can a leader do to demonstrate they're operating from a place of "secureness" and make others feel like they are the top priority and can be trusted?

Here's a list of 11 things I came up with:

Secure leaders choose to openly and freely divulge and share information. Insecure leaders operates solely on a need to know basis.
Secure leaders nurture employees to help them grow and develop. Insecure leaders don't offer opportunities for growth for fear of losing their job.
Secure leaders encourage calculated risk taking amongst the people following them. Insecure leaders want to make all the decisions.
Secure leaders give guidance and expect results.Insecure leaders give instructions and expect them to be followed.
Secure leaders earn respect. Insecure leaders demand respect.
Secure leaders spotlight great performance and don’t worry about getting credit. Insecure leaders may acknowledge great performance but ensure they also get credit.
Secure leaders hire and promote others who think differently than they do. Insecure leaders hire and promote others who think like they do.
Secure leaders accept responsibility for failure. Insecure leaders look for others to blame.
Secure leaders promote those they don’t have to control. Insecure leaders promote those they can control.
Secure leaders grow great leaders. Insecure leaders grow good doers.
Secure leaders acknowledge effort. Insecure leaders spotlight failure.

The Main Po!nt

Great leaders are first, great individuals who use confidence as a way to to inspire results and win their people over instead of letting insecurities impact their ability to lead others confidently.

See you on the court!

The Anywhere Leader with Mike Thompson

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:16:49 PDT

Mike Thompson is the author of "The Anywhere Leader" and he stops by HCL Radio to talk about some of the key traits today's leaders need to have to be successful in the this rapidly changing business enviorment.

The Anywhere Leader offers a blueprint for developing today's leaders who can handle surprising challenges and who thrive in turbulent times by being open to concepts, passionate about progress and resourceful with tools available.

As Mike shares, Anywhere Leaders have 3 key traits. They are Driven By Progress,
Sensationally Curious and Vastly Resourceful.

Click here to follow Mike on Twitter!

See you on the court!

The Slam Dunk Illiteracy Campaign!

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:23:01 PDT

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a powerful series of literacy and self-development seminars featuring former NBAer and Toronto Raptor, John Wallace that were designed to make a difference to Toronto/GTA youth!

The campaign ran from October 3-5, 2011 and reached more than 1,000 youth in that time period.

Wallace was drafted 18th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. He went on to play eight seasons in the NBA and and two in Europe. In 1998 he was the runner up of the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award while with the Toronto Raptors. John was also voted Community Service Man of the Year for his dedication to youth in the city of Toronto.

I've known John for quite some time and he's always had a deep appreciation for the city of Toronto from his playing days and has always wanted to give back to the city in some capacity.

Wallace is the co-founder of a youth mentoring company called, Winning Because I Tried and is joined by his partner, Modie Cox to deliver inspiring talks to young audiences.

Important messages that are taught include:

The power of hard work and perseverance
The value of education and literacy
Learning to develop confidence in your abilities despite obstacles

John and Modie have a true passion to help today's youth reach their full potential. They bot
h came from challenging backgrounds and are committed to sharing their experiences in order to guide audiences on the right path.

The SLAM DUNK ILLITERACY campaign has been receiving rave reviews from Toronto schools and youth organizations:

“Thanks a lot for today. The event was amazing. What you guys were able to do was amazing.”

Lennox Cadore, Arts Program Manager - Urban Arts Toronto

The campaign also featured a book that I co-authored called, "Basketball Talk, The Way It Should Be!" It's an entertaining baller and celebrity quote book that makes reading fun and some of the proceeds are being donated to some of their charities, Epilepsy Halton Peel Hamilton and the ErinoakKids Foundation.

Overall, with poor literacy rates, bullying and lack of motivation rampant among today's youth, John and Modie's presentation aims to connect with young people most as risk and make them accountable and inspired to break through their challenges.

If you're interested in having The SLAM DUNK ILLITERACY campaign come to your school or organization, please feel free to contact:

DaveandAudley@TheBreakdownShow.com

See you on the court!

7 Worthwhile Things I Learned From My Mentor

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 02:31:39 PDT

I'm a big fan of mentorship and I've spoken about it on numerous occasions. I've also had the privilege of interviewing real topic experts like Steve Farber and Don Yaeger.

I was most recently reminded about the importance of mentorship to my personal development when I had a long overdue telephone conversation with someone who had mentored to me.

Terry and I hadn't spoken in close to ten years from my days when I was employed with Service Canada, a department in the Canadian federal government. When we re-connected, it didn't take me very long to remember how much of an impact she had on my growth.

We chatted for over an hour and ended the conversation with a commitment of doing a better job of staying in touch with one another in the future. I immediately began reflecting on our relationship from the moment the phone beeped to signal the call was over.

It was through this thought process I discovered seven key things that made our relationship so worthwhile:

1) Not one sided

A typical mentoring arrangement involves a more experienced or knowledgeable person imparting insights and guidance to someone with less experience.

When Terry and I first met, I was fairly new to government and didn't know very much about bureaucracies or how to navigate through policies and procedures to get the work done.

She had several years of work experience under her belt and had pretty much seen it all before. I, on the other hand was quite comfortable when it came to technology and was always trying to develop systems to help us be more efficient.

This was an area that Terry wasn't as strong in and a way was immediately opened a way for us to learn from one another. I felt as if I was also making a positive contribution to the relationship and not just taking. It was mutually beneficial.

2) Anyone can be your mentor

A mentor doesn't have to be someone in a position of leadership or authority. They definitely have the potential of offering a good learning opportunity but that doesn't necessarily mean that it'll be the best.

While a boss, supervisor or manager can offer a meaningful experience we can gain knowledge or insights from virtually anyone we come in contact with as long as we're open to learning the lesson. This is why I absolutely love the expression,

"Always learn, learn all ways!"

3) Genuine Caring Leads to Authentic Kindness

I don't think its possible to have an effective mentoring relationship if there isn't some level of caring that exists. In my case, I knew right from the onset that Terry was genuinely interested in my well being and wanted the best for me. This was important to know because it allowed me to have complete trust and faith in whatever direction or guidance that came from her.

4) Recognize Greatness

At one point during our conversation, Terry said, "I saw so much potential in you and all I've ever wanted was for you to be a role model to others."

Because mentors have an objective view of things, it's far easier for them to see our individual greatness then for us to recognize it ourselves. Terry not only recognized what I was good at but she also put me in situations where I could maximize skills and build my confidence at the same time.

5) It's a relationship

Being in a mentor/mentee relationship is no different then any other relationship we have in our lives. In the beginning, you've got to commit the time to learn about the other person and understand their likes, dislikes, interests and desires before you can think about trying to help them.

When both sides have a better understanding of each another, the opportunities for growth and development increase. She took the time to understand me and knew how to best help me to succeed.

6) No Structure Needed
There's lots of companies that have structured mentorship programs that come complete with a detailed matching process, a prescribed meeting template and a roles and responsibilities agreement that both sides must adhere to.

While these programs can provide some amazing opportunities for learning and growth, they don't all have to be structured in that fashion. The most lasting mentoring relationships are the ones that have organically developed in the absence of a formalized structured program.

7) Pass it on
Terry eventually moved on to a new position and we stopped working together thus ending our "formal" relationship however we still remained in touch for a bit. I eventually went on to manage a program that gave me an opportunity to mentor more then two dozen young students that were brand new to government over a course of a three year period.

They were all really eager, keen and anxious and I saw a lot of myself in many of them. This compelled me to work hard on creating a positive work experience that supported their learning and development, empowered them to make decisions and offered different viewpoints to help increase their perspective and understanding.

I essentially gave to them what was given to me.

I'm still in contact with many of my past employees today and proud of their professional accomplishments and the type of individuals they've grown to become. I was truly honored this past summer when one of my past "mentees" asked me to MC her wedding.

Knowledge and insight are great things to have but even better when you give it to others. To grow as a leader, you must be prepared to take all of your learnings, lessons and experiences and pass them along to someone else.

In Closing...
Our actions or how we choose to live our lives can serve as mentors to others. In fact, I truly believe that the greatest lessons we learn in life comes from the people around us, thus making the role of the mentor that much more important.

If an opportunity presents itself and you have a chance to be that difference maker to someone else, I would encourage you to step up and embrace the role. Helping someone become better then what they were is a true leadership skill that can have lasting effects.

Thanks Terry!!

See you on the court!

Jason Kidd on Impact & Influence

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:35:58 PDT

Seventeen years after being drafted into the NBA, veteran point guard Jason Kidd earned the right to be called NBA champ after capturing his first title with the Dallas Mavericks when they defeated the Miami Heat in the Finals.

This future hall of famer was an integral part of the team and as Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle said, "He's just been a thrill and a privilege to spend time with."

Kidd is among the NBA leaders in a number of statistical categories including 3 point shots made, steals and assists. He's a coach on and off the floor and can always be relied upon to support the team with his leadership, stability and poise.

As is the case with most great players who's playing careers are winding down, Kidd is often asked how much longer he'll keep going before he hangs up the sneakers.

The almost 39 year old has gotten accustomed to addressing this question and recently said, "I feel great, and being around younger guys and working on my game, and them believing in me, helped me compete every day."

Hold up! What did he say??

Did one of the best point guards to ever step foot on an NBA court just say that the belief of younger players helped him?

With more then half of the 18 players on the roster having less then 10 years of experience many of his team mates grew up watching him while they dreamed of one day playing in the NBA.

How is this possible?

It's totally possible you see, Kidd's response clearly speaks to the type of impact and influence our actions can have on one another. If young players with no where near half the experience of the future hall of fame point guard can significantly impact his career to the point where he wants to keep going then there's nothing that stops us from doing the same with each other.

Regardless how long we've been in the game, what position we play or who we are, our actions can build confidence and inspire greatness simply by being an encourager and supporter.

See you on the court!

If You Will Lead with Doug Moran

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:55:32 PDT

If You Will Lead is the title of Doug Moran's latest book and it uses the power of storytelling to teach leadership lessons. It combines bigger-than-life examples with everyday stories to help leaders apply these lessons to their own leadership challenges.

It's a practical guide that offers numerous resources and tools to help readers hone their skills and achieve their full potential and was listed on Inc. Magazine's list of top selling business books.

Doug visited HCL Radio for second time and we had a great chat about the importance of leaders having an awareness of themselves and his new book, "If You Will Lead"

As a starting point, Doug also provided four critical questions that every leader needs to consider:

1) Who am I , and what do I believe?
2) What do I want?
3) How will I attract and motivate others?
4) How will I earn and retain the privilege to lead?

Listen to my conversation with Doug by clicking below..

See you on the court!

Andy Hill on Coach Wooden

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:58:40 PDT

Andy Hill is a motivational speaker and author who experienced a great deal of success as president of two media companies, CBS Productions and Channel One Network. While there, he was responsible for producing shows such as Touched By Angel, Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman and Walker Texas Ranger.

These shows were based on lessons he learned from Coach John Wooden as a member of three NCAA basketball teams.

An interesting note - Andy was one of the 13 players in NCAA history to do this.

It was fitting to have Andy back on the program as we continued to pay tribute to the life of Coach Wooden and his philosophies that made him special to so many people.

Their relationship was a unique one because Andy didn't develop an appreciation for his coach's teachings while he played for him. This was primarily because he didn't receive very much playing time and as a result, Andy became bitter and resentful and didn't speak with Coach Wooden for over 25 years after he left UCLA.

They later re-connected and Andy dedicated his professional speaking career to sharing Coach Wooden's philosophy and the power and wisdom of The Pyramid of Success.

Click below to listen to my conversation with Andy as he reflects on his personal memories between he and the coach.

See you on the court!

Coach John Wooden Tribute with Steve Jamison

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:01:56 PDT

As we continue to pay tribute to John Wooden, we hear from a gentleman who's had the distinction of being his business partner, co-author and friend for over 15 years.

Steve Jamison is a best-selling author and America’s preeminent authority on the leadership philosophy of Coach John Wooden and joins me on the program to help reflect on Coach.

Steve has collaborated with Coach Wooden on projects including several best-selling books, an award-winning PBS television special, WOODEN: Values, Victory, and Peace of Mind,and numerous personal appearances.

Steve reflects on Coach Wooden's life and discusses the impact he's had on others, the significance of the Pyramid of Success and Steve will describe their final meeting.

Click below to listen to the interview.

See you on the court!

Coach John Wooden Tribute with Orlando Magic's Pat Williams

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:04:30 PDT

What's going on y'all!

It's been one year since the passing of legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden, so we take a moment to reflect by speaking with a gentleman who had the privilege of not only knowing him personally but wrote about him as well.

That's right!

Senior VP of the Orlando Magic, Pat Williams takes time out of his very busy the schedule and returns to the program to not only chat about the man named greatest coach of all time but also to fill us in on a book written in dedication of John Wooden.

It's called Coach Wooden: The 7 Principles That Shaped His Life and Will Change Yours.

When Coach Wooden graduated from the eighth grade his father gave him a hand written card and said, "Son, try and live up to this." On the card, his father had written seven simple yet profound life principles:

Be True To Yourself
Help Others
Make Friendship a Fine Art
Drink Deeply From Good Books, especially the Bible
Make Each Day Your Masterpiece
Build A Shelter Against A Rainy Day By The Life You Live
Give Thanks For Your Blessings and Pray For Guidance Everyday

These principles were the key to Coach Wooden's greatness and his goodness. Through powerful stories and advice, this book shares the wisdom that made Coach Wooden happy and successful, not just in his career but in life.

Pat and I had a great chat and it was a wonderful opportunity to gain a better understanding of Coach Wooden and the principles he used to impact so many people.

Click here to listen to the interview.

"Coach Wooden didn't just teach basketball ---he taught life"

TONY DUNGY

See you on the court!

Shane Battier - The Ultimate Teammate

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 01 May 2011 03:56:59 PDT

The regular season has ended and the 2011 NBA playoffs are in full swing! After an 82 game marathon, the top 16 teams head into the post season for an opportunity to compete for an NBA title and a chance to solidify their names as among the greats.

It's an exciting time for basketball fanatics like myself because the level of play and intensity immediately gets raised a few notches. With the increased stakes, everything that happens in the game matters even more. Every basket that's scored has significance, every play is dissected and each decision a player makes on the court is made with the intention of helping the team win.

My good friend, Don Yaeger recently highlighted one such "Ultimate Teammate" in his recent Moments of Greatness newsletter.

On April 17, 2011 Shane Battier hit a game winning shot to give his Memphis Grizzlies their first ever playoff win in franchise history (16 years). That win propelled the Grizz to become the second team in NBA history to upset the top-seed in a seven game first round playoff series.

When you take a step back and look at the entire picture, it's makes sense that Battier is the one who made the shot. And the thing is that it's got nothing to do with the fact that he's a superstar because by today's definition, he isn't.

This former Duke product has never lead any team that he's played on in scoring, never selected to play in an All Star and plays a very effective game with little to no flash.

The reason it makes sense that he hit that shot is because throughout his entire NBA career, Shane has had a history of making the teams he plays on better.

Case in point:

After his rookie season, the Memphis franchise finished with back to back 40+ win seasons for the first time before he was traded to the Houston Rockets prior to the start of the 06/07 season.
The Rockets went on to have three consecutive 50+ win seasons before he was traded back to Memphis just before the trade deadline this season.

The 6ft 8in small forward has a reputation throughout the league of being a hustle guy that's willing to do the little things like diving for loose balls or drawing offensive charges against his opponents.

These little things or Game Changers (Hard Court Lesson #6) can be the difference between winning and losing.

If you're on a team or part of a group, you have an opportunity to be that "Ultimate Teammate". Regardless how big or small, your actions can contribute to the team's bottomline.

In sports, they're called, "glue guys" because of their ability to pull everyone together through selfless team oriented play and willingness to sacrifice their own stats for the good of everyone else.

Shane is one of those guys, how about you?

PS - Click here to subscribe to Don's newsletter.

See you on the court!

Being a Better Leader in the Digital Age

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:08:17 PDT

With the ongoing changes taking place in this digital age, leadership styles must also adapt to not only these rapid advancements but also the multi-generational issues that exist between Baby Boomers and the Gen Y group.

We're being bombarded with new technology all the time and today's leaders must be fluid and adaptable to these changes if they hope to survive. The challenge becomes even greater when you add into the mix the ongoing generational differences out there.

Brad Szollose, author of 'Liquid Leadership: From Woodstock to Wikipedia, Multi-generational Management Ideas That are Changing the Way We Run Things' joins HCL Radio to discuss these issues.

Brad outlines 7 credos in Liquid Leadership to help leaders adapt to these changes:

1. Place people first
2. Create a safe place to tell the truth
3. Nuture a creative enviorment
4. Support re-invention
5. Lead by example
6. Take responsibility
7. Leave a lasting legacy

He'll also discuss how the introduction of video games in the home 1977 coupled with the internet heavily influenced those that would go on to lead the Dot.com boom.

About Brad Szollose:

During the Dot Com Era of the early 90′s, Brad co-founded K2 Design, Inc. which later raised over $7 million through private placement and an IPO... [The company] saw 425% growth for 5 straight years, expanded from 2 business partners to 4 partners and 60+ employees with offices worldwide and valuated at over $26 million.

As as an added bonus, Brad will also share a free special report:

Cracking the Gen-Y Code: How They Think, How They Work & How They Buy!

All you have to do is email him to request a copy:

Brad@liquidleadership.com

Click below to listen to Brad.

See you on the court!

Making Dreams Come True

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:10:15 PDT

Being charitable and lending a hand to those around us is something we're all familiar with but helping so that others can meet their dreams takes the Good Samaritan philosophy to a whole new level.

The story of high school basketball coach, Jim Johnson and his equipment manager, Jason McElwain, (AKA J-Mac) is a great illustration of what this concept is all about.

On Feb. 15, 2006, Coach Johnson gave J-Mac an opportunity to play in the final game of the regular season by inserting him for the last four minutes.

And that's when a MIRACLE happened:

Jim Johnson joined me on HCL Radio to talk about the story that inspired the book, "A Coach and a Miracle".

As you'll hear from the coach, it's a story that provided hope and inspiration not to only those involved but to others as well.

Helping dreams come true does three things:

It demonstrates kindness
Reinforces the importance of our individual actions and the impact it can have on others
Motivates people to help others.

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can. ~Sydney Smith

See you on the court!

Get In The Game and Take Action!

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:05:33 PST

On Friday, February 4th, 2011, I was honoured to be the recipient of a Speakers Bureau Spirit Award from the United Way of Peel for being an outstanding ambassador for the United Way.

I was presented with the honour during its Community Achievement Celebration when the 2010 campaign total of $13,752,578 was announced.

As a member of the Speaker's Bureau, I would visit different workplace campaigns to encourage giving and to help increase awareness of how United Way funded programs support our community.

A key characteristic of leadership is recognizing when action needs to be taken and then actually doing something about it. I'm constantly reminded how true this is on a seemingly daily basis through the lessons provided by my six year old daughter who was diagnosed with autism.

Autism is a disorder of neural development and Jahleesa's speech has been severely delayed. While this can make communication challenging at times, she's also proved that our ability influence others isn't tied into the things we say, its the things we do that matter.

Leaders are the ones who take action when action is needed and the best part about it is that you don't have to be a professional speaker to make a difference.

Organizations like the United Way are always interested in people looking to make positive contributions and be leaders in their communities. If this is something that you've considered in the past but haven't acted on, I'd encourage you to do so.

It's not hard.

So stop hanging around the sidelines and

Get In The Game and Take Action!

See you on the court!

Influence Is Like Flowers and Candy

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 05:13:40 PDT

Without question, leadership and influence go hand in hand with another. The most effective leaders are those that posses the ability to lead those around them from one place to the next.

There are a variety of influence and persuasion principles at our disposal to help us with this but it's important that we properly read the situation and recognize which tool is most appropriate.

Here are the six main ones we can refer to:

Liking - People respond much more readily to people that they like, and even to the friends of people that they like. They feel comfortable if they see similarity or like the things that you’re associated with.

Scarcity - People get so much more interested in something if they feel that it’s about to run out.

Consistency & Commitment - People respond to others who are consistent in their messages. If you are constantly giving the same messages to people and acting in a consistent way, they will respond positively.

Social Proof - If people see others doing something, they assume that it must be okay to do it and therefore, they will be happier about doing it themselves.

Authority - People invariably act more positively if they have respect for the authority of the person who is giving them information.

Reciprocity - Reciprocation is about how, if you do something for somebody, they will feel obliged to do something for you, or they will at least feel better about doing something for you.

Flowers & Candy

“An earnest and sincere lover buys flowers and candy for the object of his affections. So does the cad who succeeds to take advantage of another’s heart. But when the cad succeeds, we don’t blame the flowers and candy. We rightly question his character.”

"The Art of Woo"

The principles of persuasion are as neutral as flowers and candy because they and can be used to influence people either positively or negatively. The tools themselves are neither good or bad, it's how they are put into practice.

Brian Ahearn joins HCL Radio to chat about the topic of influence and persuasion and explore these principles a bit further.

Brian has the distinction of being one of a handful of people trained by persuasion and influence expert, Dr. Robert Cialdini.

I asked Brian to comment on the connection between influence and leadership.

See you on the court!

The Name on The Front of The Jersey

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 05:12:30 PDT

The most effective groups are the ones where the members are focused on the goals of the team. They put their personal feelings, agendas and issues on the side and play for the name on the front of the jersey as opposed to the one on the back.

That's not to say that you have to forsake who you are for the good of the team. If you look at the championship Chicago Bulls teams in the 90's, they still needed Michael Jordan to be Michael Jordan.

Essentially, a team is made up of a variety of pieces and the integrity of the group is maintained as long as each member does their part.

The bottom line is every player on the team has to be on the same page for the group to achieve success or have a legitimate shot at winning.

In his book, "Pulling Together", John Murphy identifies 10 rules for high performing teams and joins me on the next episode of HCL Radio to discuss them.

John describes high performing team as teams that continue to "rise up and perform at peak levels"

To hear more from John, be sure to check out "The Name on The Front of The Jersey" on HCL Radio.

To stay regularly up to date with new episodes, click on the follow button on slightly above the show description!

See you on the court!

It`s Not What You Don`t Have

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 07:41:53 PDT

There`s very few people that would have a better understanding of this concept than former big league baseball pitcher, Jim Abbott.

As a result of a birth defect, Jim was born with only one hand but that didn`t deter him from following his dream of being a professional pitcher.

Here are a few of his accomplishments:

pitcher for the Gold Medal Olympic Team in 1988;

threw a 4-0 no-hitter for the New York Yankees versus Cleveland (September 4, 1993).

played for 10 seasons on 4 different teams and ended his big league playing career in 1999.

Instead of choosing to focus on what he didn`t have, Jim turned his attention towards the things he did have and refused to be defined by his missing right hand.

As a motivational speaker, Jim joins the next episode of HCL Radio to talk to about his playing career, how he personally overcame obstacles and what kinds of things motivated him to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional baseball player.

Listen as Jim talks about the importance of being accountable to ourselves clicking here.

Click here to read Jim`s full biography.

For more great insights be sure to check out the program or to stay regularly up to date with new episodes, click on the follow button on slightly above the show description!

See you on the court!

The Platinum Differences

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:02:23 PDT

I had the privilege of welcoming Scott Zimmerman to HCL Radio to discuss a concept called, "The Platinum Rule" which was originally developed by his co-author and business partner, Dr. Tony Alessandro.

While many are familiar with the Golden Rule which says we must do onto others as they would do onto you, The Platinum Rule adds a slight twist.

The difference being that we're not treating people how we want to be treated but rather how they rather be treated.

It acknowledges and recognizes the fact that we're all different and don't necessarily all respond to a one size fits all approach.

This change in mindset requires a solid of understanding of the four different personality modes that exist and leaders need to be able to identify which mode a person is operating in and when they move from one mode to the next.

Director Socializer Thinker Relater

As Scott points out, leaders can make the biggest impact if they adapt to the whomever they're dealing with by adjusting the speed and temperature.

Click here to listen.

Click here to learn more about the Platinum Rule or to get your own personal assessment.

For more great insights be sure to check out the program or to stay regularly up to date with new episodes, click on the follow button on slightly above the show description!

See you on the court!

The 8 Causes of Persistence

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:51:35 PDT

Coach Bob Starkey of the LSU Lady Tigers wrote a great piece on his blog Hoop Thoughts about the importance of being persistent and identified 8 causes of it:

1. Definiteness of purpose
Knowing what one wants is the first and, perhaps, the most important step toward the development of persistence. A strong motive forces one to surmount many difficulties.

2. Desire
It is comparatively easy to acquire and to maintain persistence in pursuing the object of intense desire.

3. Self-reliance
Belief in one’s ability to carry out a plan encourages one to follow the plan through with persistence.

4. Definiteness of plan
Organized plans, even though they may be weak and entirely impractical, encourage persistence.
5. Accurate knowledge
Knowing that one’s plans are sound, based upon experience or observation, encourages persistence; “guessing” instead of “knowing” destroys persistence.

6. Cooperation
Sympathy, understanding, and harmonious cooperation with others tend to develop persistence.

7. Will-power
The habit of concentrating one’s thoughts upon the building of plans for the attainment of a definite purpose leads to persistence.

8. Habit
Persistence is the direct result of habit. The mind absorbs and becomes a part of the daily experiences upon which it feeds. Fear, the worst of all enemies, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage. Everyone who has seen active service in war knows this.

See you on the court!

Hard Court Lesson #13

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:15:27 PDT

It's All In The Follow Through

Being an effective shooter is a combination of good form, proper balance and a refined shooting technique. A picture perfect jump shot is like poetry in motion however, it means nothing if you don't follow through.

Generally, following through is a good thing because what we're essentially doing is putting actions to our words. So instead of being one of those people who say, "Yeah, I thought of that great idea, you can say I did it and implemented this great idea.

That's what following through is all about.

See you on the court!

If I Had A Choice...

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:38:33 PDT

If I had a choice, I'd rather be communicated with as opposed to being talked to, with a heavy emphasis on the word "with".

Coach Kevin Sutton of Montverde Academy, a college preparatory school in Montverde Florida states in a recent blog post, "Talking vs Communicating", that it's a two way street.

By communicating with me, I'm allowed to be a part of the process as opposed to being told what to do.

The most successful coaches and leaders understand its importance and regularly incorporate effective communication strategies into their normal manner of operation.

In the case of Coach Sutton, he does a “CIRCLE OF COMMUNICATION” at the end of each practice.

This is where all of his players gather in circle and a topic is selected for them to communicate with each other about.

For example, he might have them pick a player to their right and tell them know what they did well in practice that day. The key is that they must say the teammates name.

According to Coach Sutton, this exercise has helped tremendously in the development of the players ability to:

Communicate & actively listen
To be secure vs. insecure in giving and receiving a compliment.
Help grow a teammates self-esteem.

Maintaining effective communication is the starting point for team success and in order to achieve this:

1. You must have a common language

2. A clear understanding of what is being communicated

3. Acknowledge that you understand what has been communicated to you. (Information given, received and understood).

So after all that.

What's your choice?

See you on the court!

Here's Why Everything Matters

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:57:11 PDT

It's really easy to take the small and seemingly insignificant things for granted and assume that they don't matter or won't have an impact on the bottom line.

This ultimately, isn't the case and often times, the smallest things can be the difference between winning and losing.

Author and speaker, Gary Ryan Blair joins me on the next episode of HCL Radio to discuss his Everything Counts philosophy which is also the name of his book and blog.
Gary teaches his audiences about the importance of paying attention to the fine details because they often times are the difference between success and failure or the difference between first place and second.

Click here to listen to Gary further explain the concept.

For more great insights be sure to check out the program or to stay regularly up to date with new episodes, click on the follow button on slightly above the show description!

See you on the court!

Productivity Lessons from a Web Designer

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:26:45 PDT

So I'm a pretty active guy when it comes to Twitter and the more I use it, the more I find it becomes my go to source for news, updates and general time wasting.

I happen to be following a web & graphic designer from Minneapolis, MN by the name of Mike Lane.

Now on the surface, you'd think that he and I don't have a whole lot in common and I wouldn't blame you for thinking that way.

Afterall, I'm a self professed hoops junkie that uses basketball to help people develop both personally and professionally and he talks about performance optimization, HTML and web design stuff.

What could we possible have in common??

Well, after reading his tweet that provided 10 tips on being more productive, I was quickly reminded of a Hard Court Leadership lesson.

No matter the situation, circumstance or players involved, there are a ton of valuable lessons we can learn to make us better leaders. It's up to us to use our court vision to spot them.

Here are the 10 tips that Mike shared via Clare Evans, author of Time Management for Dummies.

Thanks Mike!

1. Plan

If you want to make the biggest difference to your productivity, plan your time. You’ll ensure you’re focusing on the right things and using your time more effectively.

2. Systems and Priorities

When you’ve got to much to do, don’t expect to do it all. Make the best use of your time by focusing on what’s important.

3. Delegate

The busier you are the more you need to delegate. Spend your time on important tasks that no one else can do rather than day-to-day tasks.

4. Distractions and interruptions

We’d get more done if we didn’t keep getting distracted or interrupted. Whether it’s emails, phone calls or people stopping by our office without an appointment, interruptions are part of every working day.

5. Learn to say No!

Busy people often say yes to everything. Get back control of your time by saying ‘No’.
6. Manage your emails

Email can be one of the biggest distractions and drains on our time. Particularly if you find yourself constantly checking your inbox. Unless they’re a critical part of your work, they rarely need to be responded to immediately.

7. Setting Expectations

If you spend time working with other people, it’s important to set expectations. Let them know what it is you want and when. Don’t let other people’s actions create added effort and pressure for you.

8. Procrastination

Many people have a tendency to put things off. If the task is worth doing, don’t make it worse by leaving it. Do it sooner rather than late. Here are a few ways to deal with it:

9. Taking Breaks

Even if you’re busy, you need to take regular breaks. How often do you work through your lunch break or don’t take a break until it’s time to finish for the day?

10. Keep the balance

Working hard is all very well, but if you focus all your time and effort on work, other areas are likely to suffer.

See you on the court!

A Society of One

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:02:13 PDT

We all know how important it is for individuals to take responsibility for their actions, it's a core element of leadership and something everyone should be mindful of on a regular basis.

Ultimately, we're accountable to ourselves so it's important that we're 100% comfortable for the choices we make because at the end of the day, we'll have to live with ourselves and the pathways we selected.

We're the ones who'll have to evaluate whether or not the choices made are worthwhile and beneficial to us and not others. Think of yourself as our own little society where you are entirely accountable for all the decisions, it's a place where you get to make up all the rules.

It doesn't matter what other societies are doing or what rules they govern themselves with. All that matters are the decisions you make for yourself and whether or not you're comfortable with them.

Sunjay Nath joins me on the next edition of HCL Radio to explore this topic and many more. As an internationally recognized professional speaker and author, Sunjay has spread positive messages around self-esteem, leadership and goal setting to young people all over.

Sunjay chatted with me about the importance of perception.

Click here to listen to what Sunjay had to say.

For more great insights be sure to check out the program or to stay regularly up to date with new episodes, click on the follow button on slightly above the show description!

See you on the court!

Hard Court Lesson #12

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:15:43 PDT

Finding Your Sweet Spot

Shooters understand the importance of getting into a good rhythm and what it means to their shot. Finding that natural flow increases the chances of a better performance and increases the likelihood of success.

This is why it's critical that we find our Sweet Spot.

See you on the court!

Pulling Together

audley@hardcourtlessons.com (Audley Stephenson) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:09:34 PDT

If we look deep enough, we can find life lessons just about everywhere.

For example, my friend John Murphy used the illustration of geese to teach some incredible lessons about how teams can become high performers through the power of pulling together.

Check it out this 3 minute video!

Pulling Together

See you on the court!