Warren Bennis (2009) once said, “Leadership is like beauty: it’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it” (p. xxx). It only takes a qu
ick look however to see the leadership success and ability inherent in obtaining eleven rings; the ones that Phil Jackson has received over a twenty-year history coaching two teams. For this, Phil Jackson can be viewed as the apex of what a successful team leader should be. His views and philosophy for leading championship winning teams align with that of the leadership expert elite.
Northouse (2016) writes of the importance of decision making that is done by the collective, rather than in a top down, hierarchal structure. Instead of the top-down model, the best leadership first occurs from the inside out—offering to others a part of ourselves that inspires them (Jackson, 2014). Each person should feel like they can meaningfully collaborate to solve problems and achieve goals. When Phil Jackson starting coaching for the Bulls, he turned away from the popular, “my way or the highway” approach and instead he “dialed back my ego and distributed power as widely as possible without surrendering final authority” (Jackson, 2014, p. 12). He worked to allow each person to carve out his respective place on the team and in this way, he discovered who emerged with the “critical capabilities” for success that Northouse (2016) writes is important for effective team leaders (p. 365). In doing this, Jackson saw abilities that went well past their own inherent talents like foot speed or shooting skills, and delved into things like courage, character under fire, and who could emerge as leaders within the team themselves (Jackson, 2014).
Phil Jackson writes that sharing the leadership with those who had the courage and ability to step up within the team was the key to winning year after year, team after team (Jackson, 2014). In the beginning of his career with the Bulls, Michael Jordan had been more centered on himself and his astounding abilities. Jackson molded Jordan into someone who trusted his teammates, who spent time 
getting to know them, and created bonds that had an impact while on the court (Jackson, 2014). Jackson took the same approach with Kobe Bryant, later with the Lakers. This shared leadership with these players allowed these two men to not only positively influence the team, but led to maximizing team effectiveness (Northouse, 2016). By this action, both the Bulls and the Lakers enjoyed less conflict, more trust, and better cohesion (Northouse, 2016).
Jackson’s leadership tactics can also be seen through the Hill model of team leadership. The model’s design is to simplify and clarify the challenging aspects of team leadership and assist leaders in making decisions (Northouse, 2016). When Phil Jackson starting coaching for both the Bulls and the Lakers, he stepped back and formed a picture in his mind of where they were then, and where he envisioned them to go (Jackson, 2014). He saw that the Lakers were a talented team, just mired down by ego and self-centeredness (Jackson, 2014). In addressing this problem, Jackson writes, “If you want them to act differently, you need to inspire them to change themselves” (Jackson, 2014, p. 13). Through this approach and others, he molded the team whose outcome was one that was effectively self-sufficient, able to make critical decisions on their own, and who believed and relied on each other to reach their shared goal. There is no doubt that Jackson and his team got the job done and maintained a cohesive team. Michael Jordan inspired his teammates as a leader within the team to elevate their performance to his standards. This raised the development of the team as a whole unit, not only surpassing their performances pre-Jordan, but grew together to possess that rare synergistic energy few teams possessed (Grover, 2014).
Under the lens of Larson & LaFasto’s Characteristics of Team excellence model, Jackson’s leadership skill is also evident. Jackson supplied his team with a clear, elevating goal that was to win a ring, win a championship – to transcend the individual and embrace the whole. (Jackson, 2014). In each step, Jackson was not vague, and this allowed the team to flourish. Each was persuaded away from being a star in their own right, to elevating the team above self (Jackson, 2014). In this, he achieved the unified commitment that afforded the team unity (Northouse, 2016). “The power of we is stronger than the power of me” (Jackson, 1995, p. 35). A collaborative climate is also a necessary component of building an excellent team (Northouse, 2016). Phil Jackson achieved this by showcasing other players of his team and not just relying or focusing on his superstar players. That is why he favored the triangle offense, which he says allowed him to empower the players, giving each a unique role to play – without waiting for the “Micheal Jordans and the Kobe Bryants of the world to work their magic” (Jackson, 2014, p. 15). This is a lesson any leader can take away from Jackson – that as a leader you must encourage an environment of collaboration while understanding the need to let them take risks (Northouse, 2016).
Phil Jackson has been called the greatest basketball coach of all time. It is his supreme abilities to guide, motivate and foster cohesiveness that has made his teams successful. Michael Jordan once said, ““Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships” (Liza, 2016). Phil Jackson knew how to take some of the most talented individuals to ever play the sport, and led them to understand the value and importance of collaboration, trust, mentoring and making the right decisions for the group, instead of what was best for themselves.
References
Bennis, W. (2009). On becoming a leader. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Grover, T. (2014). Relentless: From good to great to unstoppable. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Jackson, P. (1995). Sacred hoops: Spiritual lessons of a hardwood warrior. New York, NY: Hyperion
Jackson, P. (2014). Eleven rings: The soul of success. New York, NY: Penguin Publishing
Liza. (2016, November 30) Michael Jordan’s leadership profile. Retrieved from http://www.leadershipgeeks.com/michael-jordan-leadership/
Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice. (7th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, Inc