When you think of a leader what comes to mind? Perhaps a person who organizes a group of people to achieve a common goal, or someone who is capable of inspiring and helping others reach their dreams. I like John Quincy Adams’ definition, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

I think it’s fair to say, whatever your definition of leadership, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling does not embody it. Those at the top of any organization create the culture and set the tone with their actions, whether they like it or not. Looking over Mr. Sterling’s actions the past several decades, it appears that the team has meant little more than a sandbox to him.

Though his interest and commitment to the team have increased over the past decade, they have done so without the benefit of any significant change in the organization’s culture and mission. Without this, and it needs to come from him, the organization is like a dog chasing its tail. Mentally the coaches and players need to know what the organization stands for and sets out to do. To gain a mental edge the team needs a strong philosophy that echoes throughout the organization.

Without a vision that pulls everyone together to work toward, any organization is doomed to failure. I seriously doubt that Mr. Sterling, nor anyone else in the Clipper organization, can succinctly tell you what the organization’s mission is in less than fifteen seconds. This is something that generates an automatic response from members –top to bottom- of successful operations and often boils down to a simple motto such as Nike’s “Just Do It” or the Marine’s “Semper Fi.”

Once you have a strong culture you are afforded more leeway in your actions as well. That’s why Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban can get away with heckling his players from time to time, but Mr. Sterling gets called out for the doing the same thing. Cuban has interactions with the players on his team regularly and no one questions his commitment to the team. I suspect outside of the home games, Mr. Sterling has next to no contact with his team’s players, making the act of heckling them all the more deplorable. Good leaders take care of problems behind closed doors, because it is more effective and more likely to get the results they desire. I can’t think of a single instance where humiliating an individual in front of their co-workers and others, led to something good for the individual or the group.

Perhaps the best thing for Mr. Sterling and his organization at this point would be for him to go through Marine basic training. From day one of this training, Marines learn that they must be responsible for themselves and others. Leadership and command responsibility are continually pushed down to the lower ranks. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”

Maybe after completing his training Mr. Sterling will understand that there is a lot more that goes into leadership and building a team than acquiring star players. He may even realize that is what is missing in his organization and what he needs to make it more successful and profitable.

Posted in The Mind Side Blog