4.27 Lisa Leslie: How to Lead

“Well, the first quality of being a good leader is that you have to be able to follow. See, a good leader can't just be the leader all the time, I have to be able to follow.” - Lisa Leslie

What kind of leader are you?

The best leaders I know talk the talk and walk the walk. They have something special about them that makes you want to follow them, that makes you feel confident, and they model what they preach.

Great leaders are also great followers who know how to listen, learn, and support others.

Lisa Leslie is one of the best female basketball players of all time, and four-time Olympic gold medalist was the first female to dunk in a WNBA game. She was also a great leader who coached a men’s team in the BIG3 professional basketball league.

She once said, “Well, the first quality of being a good leader is that you have to be able to follow. See, a good leader can't just be the leader all the time, I have to be able to follow.” A strong leader knows when to step back, listen, and learn from others. They're not above following directions, taking advice, or supporting someone else's vision when it's the right thing to do.

And being a leader isn't about always being in control or having all the answers. I tell young leaders all the time, “You don’t have to have all the answers; you just need to know how to find them and who to go to.”

Then, be willing to do the right thing, the right way, at the right time while holding yourself and others accountable.

Question of the Day: What kind of leader are you?