Bench The Ego

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Phil Jackson won eleven NBA Championships while coaching the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Many consider him the greatest NBA coach of all time. In his book, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success, he makes this insightful comment about power and pride:

After years of experimenting, I discovered the more I try to exert power directly, the less powerful I became. I learned to dial back my ego and distribute power as widely as possible without surrendering final authority. Paradoxically, this approach strengthened my effectiveness because it freed me to focus on my job as a keeper of the teams vision. 

Jackson's words echo God's Word in Proverbs:

  • When pride comes, then comes disgrace,but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
  • By insolence comes nothing but strife,but with those who take advice is wisdom.
  • Proverbs 13:10
  • Pride goes before destruction,and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
  • Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:12

Think about it: What does it mean for you to "bench the ego"? Where can you share leadership today?

Thought Of The DayPhil Jackson, PrideComment