Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success - Part 2

I shared with you previously (Like Minds - Lessons from John Wooden) the definition of success provided by legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. More recently I began the process that I will complete today of compiling an executive summary from portions of his “Pyramid of Success.”

In my prior post I summarized the first 4 of what I believe to be the 9 mission critical elements of his Pyramid. Today, I will explain the remaining 5 factors.

I also want to provide you a link to his official website: http://www.coachwooden.com/

5. Mutual Responsibility - It is your responsibility to properly plan your practices with your team. It is your team’s responsibility to apply what they learn day-to-day with the goal of continuous improvement.

6. Industriousness - There is no substitute for hard work. Worthwhile results come from hard work AND careful planning.

Undirected diligence is not very efficient and, therefore, an element of planning must go into hard work. It is the combination of the two that results in Industriousness.

Wooden spent two hours every day with this staff planning every practice. Each drill was calculated to the minute. Every aspect of the session was choreographed, including where the practice balls would be placed.

He believed that his strength as a teacher emerged from planning and organization. By having practices carefully orchestrated, they were able to get more done in a shorter time period. Planning places effort where effort is most needed.

7. Skill Development - Skill is knowledge of and the ability to properly and quickly execute the fundamentals.

Proficiency in executing the fundamentals of your craft and learning to do them quickly will go a long way toward making a success.

8. Team Spirit - Team Spirit is a genuine consideration for others. It’s the attitude that I’ll be happy to sacrifice personal accomplishments for the good of the team. When every member of the team eagerly performs every task, the group rises to a new level of accomplishment.

Team Spirit is the ultimate expression of interdependence. Team Spirit makes the group better. Team Spirit is consideration, respect and dignity for others.

If we display true consideration for others, most of our problems will be manageable.

9. Competitive Greatness - According to Wooden, we can accomplish all that we have discussed and still not be assured of success. The final ingredient is competitive greatness.

Be at your best when your best is needed; the enjoyment of a difficult challenge. Think of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Lance Armstrong and Michael Phelps just to name a few.

Please share with us your formula for success.

We would love to hear from you!