Wooden on Leadership

A compelling look inside the mind and powerful leadership methods of Americas coaching legend, John Wooden

Praise for Wooden on Leadership:

“What an all-encompassing Pyramid of Success for leadership! Coach Woodens moral authority and brilliant definition of success encompass all of life. How I admire his lifes work and concept of what it really means to win!”

--Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

“Wooden On Leadership offers valuable lessons no matter what your endeavor. 'Competitive Greatness' is our goal and that of any successful organization. Coach Woodens Pyramid of Success is where it all starts.”

--Jim Sinegal, president and CEO, Costco

John Woodens goal in 41 years of coaching never changed; namely, to get maximum effort and peak performance from each of his players in the manner that best served the team. Wooden on Leadership explains step-by-step how he pursued and accomplished this goal. Focusing on Woodens 12 Lessons in Leadership and his acclaimed Pyramid of Success, it outlines the mental, emotional, and physical qualities essential to building a winning organization, and shows you how to develop the skill, confidence, and competitive fire to “be at your best when your best is needed”--and teach your organization to do the same.

Though he was better at it than almost anyone in American history, building a sports dynasty was never a goal for UCLA head coach John Wooden. Rather, it was Woodens passionate desire to teach his players how to become the best team they could be. To Wooden, “Competitive Greatness” was a tangible and teachable force.

One of the lesser-known aspects of Woodens career is the private notebooks in which he regularly recorded his observations, goals, and leadership concepts as they applied to basketball, success, and life. Wooden on Leadership draws from those personal notes to share practical and powerful leadership skills that anyone can use to improve performance and overcome self-imposed limitations.

Wooden on Leadership contains the best of Woodens observations, covering everything from teamwork (“It takes 10 hands to score a basket”) and self-control (“Emotion is the enemy”) to concentration (“Dont look at the scoreboard”) and dealing with defeat (“Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out”). Featuring pivotal moments in Woodens own leadership journey, it explores the 15 fundamental leadership qualities--building blocks--of his famous Pyramid of Success, illustrating their relevance in building a winning organization. Each chapter concludes with Woodens “Rules to Lead By,” point-by-point action steps covering the chapters key concepts. along with pivotal moments in his own leadership journey.

“On Wooden” summary sections throughout the book feature penetrating insights on Coach Woodens leadership methods from players and coaches who worked with him during his career, including All-Americans Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gail Goodrich, and David Meyers and assistant coaches Denny Crum, Gary Cunningham, and Eddie Powell. As participants and contributors to Woodens legacy, their words provide a revealing and personal perspective.

Wooden on Leadership reveals the leadership wisdom of John Wooden. It presents the core concepts, methods, and beliefs that Wooden used to teach his teams how to attain Competitive Greatness, and true personal success.

John Wooden and his legendary UCLA dynasty won 10 NCAA national championships in 12 years. This work draws on Wooden's personal notebooks to share practical and powerful leadership skills that apply to any field. Highlighting pivotal moments in Wooden's leadership, the book explores 15 fundamental leadership qualities and outlines steps for improving performance and overcoming self-imposed limitations. Jamison has worked with Wooden on other books.
Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Wooden is one of the most respected and honored sports coaches in our nation's history, but it wasn't winning games that drove him: it was ensuring that, regardless of the final score, his players always put forth their utmost effort and performed to the best of their abilities.

A Wall Street Journal Bestseller

A compelling look inside the mind and powerful leadership methods of Americas coaching legend, John Wooden

"Team spirit, loyalty, enthusiasm, determination. . . . Acquire and keep these traits and success should follow."

--Coach John Wooden

John Woodens goal in 41 years of coaching never changed; namely, to get maximum effort and peak performance from each of his players in the manner that best served the team. Wooden on Leadership explains step-by-step how he pursued and accomplished this goal. Focusing on Woodens 12 Lessons in Leadership and his acclaimed Pyramid of Success, it outlines the mental, emotional, and physical qualities essential to building a winning organization, and shows you how to develop the skill, confidence, and competitive fire to “be at your best when your best is needed”--and teach your organization to do the same.

Praise for Wooden on Leadership:

“What an all-encompassing Pyramid of Success for leadership! Coach Woodens moral authority and brilliant definition of success encompass all of life. How I admire his lifes work and concept of what it really means to win!”

--Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

“Wooden On Leadership offers valuable lessons no matter what your endeavor. 'Competitive Greatness' is our goal and that of any successful organization. Coach Woodens Pyramid of Success is where it all starts.”

--Jim Sinegal, president and CEO, Costco

The legendary coach presents his ideas on creating leaders and winning organizations.

John Wooden was the winner of 10 NCAA basketball championships in 12 years with the UCLA Bruins and was named Coach of the Century by ESPN. The only person to be inducted into basketball's Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach, he is the author of They Call Me Coach and Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court.

Steve Jamison is a popular columnist and speaker. A close confidante of John Wooden, he is coauthor of the bestselling biography Wooden.