Coach K's Leadership Lessons in his Book Beyond Basketball

The blessing of having a mentor is that they genuinely take pride in your growth and development. Mine, Steve Moles, knows the passion I have for basketball as both a Dad and a coach. He has sat with me and cheered on my sons as well as observed me coach my youth teams during tournaments. Because of this, he shared the book Beyond Basketball: Coach K’s Keywords For Success written by Hall of Fame Duke Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and his daughter Jamie Spatola. The book was more than a gift, it was a tool that helped me ask questions regarding my own leadership and the impact I have on others. One of the ways to impact others that Steve and I were able to identify is to share what I have learned through my reading of this book and other experiences by writing an article in my company newsletter. Through this article, I hope to share what I have learned from the book, encourage you to read it yourself and suggest a few ways that you can apply what you learn so that you may have an impact on others, like Steve has had an impact on me; Beyond Today.

In the book Coach K identifies forty keywords that were critical in shaping him as a person and coach but also in how he was able to impact so many others - on and off the court.  Coach K says “this book is not about merely USING or borrowing words; it is about owning them.” His approach in the book was to first provide some background and definition on the word, then he would go into detail on why the word had value for him in his life and then he would give examples from his life experiences to demonstrate the word in action.

You don’t have to be a basketball fan to enjoy this book, but if you are, you will enjoy his references to games and players from his history. What stands out most, is how leadership is demonstrated in various ways that are not always traditional or obvious and Coach K continues to learn and grow from peers and more importantly, from his players. The insight into the relationships he has with others and how we can connect through the decades with different types of players and maintain mutual respect. This respect is best showcased through the loyalty demonstrated by his players that take on a role as an assistant coach that eventually leave to become the head coach at another college. He inspires loyalty  and he inspires others to give back in similar ways. These traits go beyond the hardwood and straight to the shop floor, the office and the family room.
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Coach K provides opportunities for us to consider words such as Adversity, Balance, Dependability, Empathy and Selflessness. He also talks about Giving Back, Failure, Poise and Ownership.  All words that can be impactful to you as a leader and simply a person of growth.

To get the most out of this book, I would suggest that first, you take notes as you read the chapter on each word. Since each word has its own chapter and typically ranges from 3 to 5 pages, they are pretty quick reads. I would read a chapter or two each morning, like a daily devotional if you will. As you read each word, think about what would be your definition? What examples of the word come to mind? How would you apply it to your life - at work, with family and friends? When you are done, ask yourself which word impacts you the most.

My impactful word was COURAGE. Daring to do what you imagine. Coach K. wrote that “People do not attempt things because they fear the consequences. But the greatest consequence of all comes in NOT attempting to do the things that you believe you can.” How powerful is that simple statement? Have you experienced that fear and let it transition into regret?

An unexpected benefit I received as I read through the chapters is that I found myself thinking about situations that my kids could face or have faced in the past. I was able to share chapters and excerpts with my kids to help them see they are not alone, others have felt or experienced the same emotions and inspire them to do what must be done if they are to achieve great things.

A benefit you may find is simply exploring and unpacking why a word is significant to you and how it could make you more empathetic as a leader and a friend. Help you recognize the powerful impact of setting high standards and the respect it shows to hold people to those standards. Does it highlight any mental models you have as a result of working through the words with your team or by considering the words from the perspective of your supervisor or an employee reporting to you?

What does it say when you are conflicted because the word you feel you should choose or WANT to choose, doesn’t really, after much consideration, apply to the degree it should? What is missing in your life? Are your priorities out of whack? Is there a gap between what you want to be and where you are? Are you trying to fool yourself like you have been doing to others?

I chose Courage as my impact word over Passion, Standards and Excellence. Courage, I find, is what I am missing so often. It is what I will need to pursue if I am going to hit my high standards of excellence. It will take Courage, if I am to use my passion to fuel my purpose. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all the others.” Courage will help me to get Beyond Today.

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