Phil Jackson & achieving team greatness

Phil Jackson stressed that creating a successful team is a spiritual act. Phil won 13 NBA championships, the most of all time, and I think he’s worth listening to. Phil provided the world a generous gift about his philosophy of leadership: Sacred Hoops.

Phil goes much deeper than a typical coach or leader. Phil took the bold step of creating teams that were transformational. He sought to touch the hearts of his players by them feeling understood. Phil spoke to his players with love and mindfulness rather than solely focus on transactions.

I shared a couple months ago about how Phil and the Bulls supported Scottie Pippen after the death of Scottie’s father.

Phil leans into the virtue of love. Phil shares, "…love is the force that ignites the spirit and binds teams together.” (52)

For sports teams to become dynasties or businesses to transcend generations I think you have to go deeper than the transactions of the day-to-day.

Phil built his career around helping his athletes gain a deeper understanding of their soul. Phil stresses: “Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.”

We’ve discussed in previous writings that leadership is an inside job. It starts with you and me. It really comes back to us as leaders taking ownership of our lives and the opportunity to be stewards of those we walk alongside.

Phil shares a great visual for the state of the mind:

“As the Buddha put it ‘If you speak and act with a polluted mind, suffering will follow you as the wheels of an oxcart follow the footsteps of the ox…If you speak and act with a pure mind, happiness will follow you, as a shadow clings to a form.’” (48)

Phil continues, “What pollutes the mind in the Buddhist view is our desire to get life to conform to our peculiar notion of how things should be.” (48)

What an incredible challenge (and opportunity) to reflect and make sure our personal desires (ego) is not in conflict with the greater good of the team.

What a beautiful opportunity we have in front of us to come to work this week to lean in with love to build cohesive, championship level teams.

Onward,

Matt