Values-Based Leadership by Coach K
Your team's performance is greatly influenced by your core
values whether you are the coach of a basketball team or a boardroom. Continue
reading to discover more leadership lessons from Mike "Coach K"
Krzyzewski, the most successful men's college basketball coach in history.
Meet Coach K
Former basketball coach Mike William Krzyzewski, also known
as Coach K, holds the record for winning the most games in the annals of men's
collegiate basketball. He oversaw the Division I team at Duke University from
1980 to 2022, guiding it to more than a thousand victories and five national
titles.
Coach K graduated from the United States Military Academy
and served in the military from 1969 to 1974 before leaving as an Army Captain
and going on to become one of the most successful coaches in the world. Coach K
is an authority on transformational leadership due to his experience in the
military and success as a basketball coach.
What Is Values-Based Leadership?
Values-based leadership is a style of leadership that unites
team members around a common set of values. It is based on the theory that
personal values influence decision-making. A values-based leader strives to
instill the organization's values in their team members as a strategy to
improve employee engagement, decision-making, productivity, and job
satisfaction.
Effective leaders demonstrate these shared values through
their actions. Values-based leadership, according to case studies in leadership
development, is an effective strategy for improving company culture and
business sustainability.
Tips on Values-Based Leadership by Coach K
"A value-based team or a value-based organization are
the ones that stand the test of time," says Coach K. Here are some of his
leadership recommendations:
1. Match your values. Everyone has their own set of values,
but in order for a team to succeed, they must find common ground. "In your
values meetings, allow each member of the team to suggest and define values,
and then discuss where their values overlap as a unit," Coach K suggests.
"Then, using these shared values, design a personalized system to guide
the team forward."
2. Personalize your core values. "You decide what
values are beneficial to you and your program," Coach K says.
"They're just ideals, qualities, ways of living that you feel are
pertinent to the group that you're in. You could have three, ten, or whatever
number you want. That is up to you." He suggests soliciting feedback from
key stakeholders. "As you distribute them to the group, ask them what they
think about them," he suggests. "Because one thing about values is
that you must own them. They're not just words, you know. They are modes of
existence."
3. Practice self-reflection. Coach K believes that
self-awareness is essential for leading a values-driven team with genuine
humility. "Don't get so caught up in yourself that you don't see the
qualities in others," he advises. A genuine leader who embodies a
value-based ethos will have a significant impact on organizational culture.
"You want to create an environment where you feel like you're going to a
place that's going to make you better, work as a team, and have good
values," he says.
4. Talk about your values. "You have to talk about
them on a day-to-day basis in your unit to ensure that the values are lived and
followed through on," Coach K says. Coach K held values meetings with his
teams on a regular basis, and everyone was encouraged to participate. "Ask
your teammates to contribute and define values to the conversation," he
says. "Each team may hold itself accountable to a unique set of
values."