Coach K is a Hall of Fame NCAA mens basketball coach. To hear him speak is $100,000! I was fortunate enough to hear his speech during a YPO retreat. These are the leadership lessons he shared:

Coach K leadership lesson 1 Leadership is a skill to be taught (not assumed). The takeaway: You can’t expect people to know how to manage and lead. So take the time to train them. This applies to everyone in your organization, including the CEO.

Leadership is a massive lever. And many companies (including mine) forget to train skilled do-ers on how to lead effectively. When team members make the leap from executive to management, always make sure they have the proper training and guidance. A lack of can be problematic

Coach K leadership lesson 2 Look each other in the eyes and always tell the truth. Make this your company's standard. The takeaway: All it takes is one person to poison your team environment. Your entire team needs integrity in order to succeed.

Coach K leadership lesson 3 Empower your team to become better. The takeaway: It’s the leader's job to create an environment that empowers growth and pushes their team to become better. This must be created (not expected).

Coach K leadership lesson 4 You will only own your words if you feel them. The takeaway: Communicate important topics in a way that will resonate with your team. Stress your points with emotion when you speak.

Coach K leadership lesson 5 Include your team in your decision making process. Ask them what they think. Encourage them to share their opinion. Go out of your way to make sure their voice is heard. The takeaway:

As a leader, you get some of your best ideas from your team. They have a different perspective. Hear them out to strengthen your relationships and instil your team with confidence.

Coach K leadership lesson 6 Coach K constantly pushed core values on his team. They kept his team aligned. And unified by the same standards. The takeaway:

Core values are of utmost importance to any team. If people don’t embody them, they’re not a cultural fit. Your team can feel this. When bringing on new team members, use core values as your north star.

Coach K leadership lesson 7 Relationships are essential to leadership. If you treat people right, they will give you everything.

Coach K leadership lesson 8 Communication is essential for effective leadership. The takeaway: Be transparent with your team. Don’t be afraid of hard talks. Clear communication creates a great culture. It leads your team to success.

Coach K leadership lesson 9 Leadership is life long learning. The takeaway: Every industry is changing. The internet and social media has changed everything over the past 30 years. If you can’t adapt and learn, your success won’t be sustainable.

Coach K leadership lesson 10 Be a human and show your team you care. Give care to receive it.

Coach K leadership lesson 11 The most powerful words a leader can share is: I believe in you. Top performers are often hard on themselves. Share it to motivate them.

Coach K leadership lesson 12 Be accessible to your team to make yourself more human.

Coach K leadership lesson 13 See yourself winning in your minds eye. Manifest it. Coach K is huge on this.

Coach K leadership lesson 14 Your process needs to be a rewarding and emotional experience. For yourself and your team. Learn to enjoy the process. It’s the most gratifying part of everything. From basketball, to life. Being able to appreciate the ups and downs is ideal.

Coach K leadership lesson 15 Use impromptu checkins, To get a feel for how your team members are doing. The takeaway: If a leader sends a cal invite, people prepare. They’re uneasy before the meeting. Impromptu makes you more approachable and leads to a less anxious team.

Thank you for reading. Coach K has had a huge impact on my life and business. I hope his knowledge can do the same for you. If you enjoyed this thread, please: 1. Follow me @iamdansnow for more 2. Retweet the 1st tweet below to share with a friend.