Kenny Smith - THAT Is Who Coach Smith Was

All the Smoke is a weekly podcast series featuring former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. In one of their latest episodes, they interviewed Kenny Smith. Kenny played at the University of North Carolina with Michael Jordan and for the legendary coach Dean Smith.

When he was asked to tell a story about Coach Smith, Kenny told a fantastic story that is a MUST listen for EVERY coach, teacher, and anyone who leads or works with people.

Coach Smith sent one of his assistant coaches to Africa for a week to learn more about the culture of one of their athletes.

They had a young man on their team named Makhtar N'diaye. Makhtar was having a tough time in practice, and assistant coach Bill Guthridge there him out of practice. After practice, Coach Smith goes to Makhtar and asks if everything is alright. Makhtar would respond, but he wouldn't look Coach Smith in his eyes. Coach Smith told Makhtar, "Look at me when I'm talking to you." Makhtar told him in his culture that to look an adult in the eye is a sign of disrespect.

Instead of forcing his culture on Makhtar, Coach Smith said, "Oh, okay," and walked out. The next day, Coach Guthridge, the coach who threw him out of practice, was not at practice. Coach Guthridge was gone for a week. Makhtar eventually got a phone call from his mom telling him that Coach Guthridge has been in Africa for a week to learn about their culture.

Coach Smith sent Coach Guthridge to Africa to learn his culture so that he would never make that mistake again.

Author Daniel Coyle writes, "Group culture is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. Culture is a set of living relationships working toward a shared goal. It's not something you are. It's something you do." Great leaders seek to build connections and co-create culture with the people they lead and serve.

Every coach has their rules and standards. It is important for people to learn some of the cultural norms of the group they are a part of, but fully engage your athletes by working with them, not against them, by leveraging their experiences and cultures.