Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life this question feed

asked by papi on November 26, 2006 3:39 PM
In some respects, a top-level college coach is a lot like a manager in any business. He has to turn a group of talented individuals into a smoothly running team, and he has to produce results that please the fans of his team--the shareholders of the athletic program. Thus, in Leading with the Heart, Krzyzewski reviews the lessons he's learned as basketball coach at Duke University, and tries to universalize them so they translate to any leadership position. For example, he writes, "Adjustments are not unusual, they are usual. So a leader's ability to think on his feet ... to do things without instruction ... is of paramount importance." Makes sense, as does this admonition: "When teaching, always remember this simple phrase: 'You hear, you forget. You see, you remember. You do, you understand.'"

The book has four sections--"Preseason," "Regular Season," "Postseason," and "All-Season"--and each of those has four chapters. Each chapter begins with three quotes ("Too many rules get in the way of leadership" leads off chapter 1), and ends with bulleted tips summing up the chapter's message. Between the quotes and the bullet points are anecdotes about Duke basketball games and (occasionally) Krzyzewski's life outside basketball. What you come away with is an understanding of why Krzyzewski is a great basketball coach, why former Duke assistants such as Tommy Amaker and Quin Snyder are probably going to become great basketball coaches, and how anyone who's currently a coach can become a better coach. It would be great if other types of managers in other types of businesses could incorporate these lessons in compassionate, focused, highly flexible leadership, but it seems unlikely. Most managers in business rise through the ranks not because of their ability to lead or inspire but because of their knowledge and competence (if not their connections). On the other hand, it would be nice if each of us, just once, could work for someone like Coach K, someone who could push the right buttons and lead us to our own version of the Final Four. Not likely, but a pretty sweet fantasy. --Lou Schuler


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"Leading with the Heart: Coach K`s Successful Strategies for Baseketball, Business, and Life by Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) and Donald T. Phillips provides provocative, real-life anecdotes that capture the meaning of the spirit of winning for the team. Coach K shows that through the spirit of playing FOR the team - and not strictly for the win -- and with the spirit of those who can be considered "the HEARTS of the TEAM," possibilities become boundless. It's not the win that defines success. It's the spirit first, through which the success follows. Sometimes the team stumbles and sometimes the team loses. Every team and every human being goes through these trials and tribulations. What defines the spirit of success, as taught to me by Kirby Thibeault, author of a book of inspirational poetry titled Wealth, and reflected in the teachings of Coach K, is the ability to overcome psychological obstacles, to see and strive for the most positive possibilities, to never give up, to look outside the "box," to look within, and to discover the true meaning of winning. Kirby Thibeault, author of Wealth, expresses a similar perspective in his forward titled "Wealth" when he writes "It's realization is like that of the discovery of the divine. All that was unknown and limiting becomes clear and liberating. What was once feared becomes friendly.... It's an awakening of the spirit." Coach K delivers tips that help define the winning attitude in teams, in leadership roles, in success, in defeat, in life, and in considerations of humanity and love." Susanne Cardwell, owner/operator of Advert Marketing Solutions and avid supporter of the spiritual views of Kirby Thibeault, author of book Wealth.
reviewed by skywalker on November 29, 2006 2:46 AM

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This book is written by one of the best guys ever in college basketball "Mike Krzyzewski" he has been the face of Duke basketball for many years. Throughout this book he talks about his life and how he became who he is. He talks about how he builds mentally strong kids and how he has trust in everything they do. If you play sports or coach a sport this book would be great for you. I play soccer personally and this book relates to what I am told every day by my coaches. You need to play as a team and if you do you will win.
This book has so many things you could learn from Coach K about life and sports. He reveals some of he secrets and tips of personal skills and what it takes to be a leader no matter what situation you are in. He uses examples from players that he has had in the past such a Grant Hill and Christian laettner are some prime examples of what he does to get them mentally fit. He makes all of his players' leaders on and off the court so they can be prepared for what ever comes their way. This book will show you leadership and will give you information on how to be an awesome person. So I encourage you to tead this book I really think anybody will enjoy it.
reviewed by fabio on November 29, 2006 4:32 PM

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Leading With The Heart is one of the best books I have ever read. Mike Krzyzewski does a wonderful job talking about the important things in life. Such things include leadership and the importance of family. Krzyzewski set up the book in a fun way that makes it easy to read. He starts with the preseason, goes to the regular season, then postseason, and finally all-season. His use of basketball terms is like a metaphor for life. He also gives an outline before the chapter so you know what you will learn, and then gives a short summary at the end of each chapter to show you what you did learn. The book mostly talks about leading a team, whether it is in basketball or in the real world. The awesome thing about it though, is that he puts so much more into it than just how to lead. He dedicates his heart into this book, and every other emotion to truly make it a masterpiece. This book is defiantly worth reading. My reactions to this novel are tremendous. Krzyzewski has really taught me something, and I have never met him in my life. You will truly get something out of this book, even if you read just a paragraph from it. It really gives you determination to lead in what ever you do. Krzyzewski is one of the highest, most respected coaches in the history of the sports world, and you certainly will know it by reading this book. Krzyzewski really puts things into perspective, and he makes it so easy to understand. If you are interested in being a leader, or just want to get a lesson on life, or a life lesson, then you should really pick up this book and read it. I guarantee it will impact you in some way.
reviewed by formula on November 29, 2006 7:24 PM

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Leading with the Heart is a guide to leadership in the business world and the sports world. Coach K talks about how leadership is gained and then how you use it to your advantage. He refers to his "fist" which is the guide to all things that are basketball and business related. He talks about getting to the top in whatever you are involved in, and how to do it with class. If you are a businessman half-heartedly interested in basketball, you should read this book about how to lead your organization to the peak of its performance level.

It is written well, with an outline before every four chapters to help the reader understand what he is going to talk about. He also included tips to remember after every chapter about the important characteristics every leader must have. However, I would not recommend it for a young ball player interested in Duke basketball. It does not discuss specific games and the strategies behind them nearly enough for a young person to enjoy. It does not talk about the plays that were used in the games, nor does it discuss the opposition. It is somewhat misleading because when someone sees Coach K on the cover he instantly thinks the book is about basketball and the strategies behind it, while it really discusses how business leaders can find a way to encourage their employees to be the best they can be. This book is specifically for a business leader who needs advice from one of basketball's most successful coaches about how to lead his organization to the top. This is a business book about how to get to know the people in your organization and how the leader of an organization can learn to have a trusting relationship with his employees.
reviewed by caramel on November 29, 2006 7:32 PM

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