What Coach John Wooden’s List of Leadership Traits Can Teach Us About Presenting

Coach John Wooden is well-known for his success with UCLA Men’s Basketball, winning 10 NCAA National Championships in a 12-year span (between 1963 and 1975). Even more impressive was his resolve in becoming the best person, coach and leader he could be. His focus was never on winning. He believed that winning was just a by-product of complete focus and dedicated effort to becoming the best version of yourself. He brought this philosophy to life through his “Pyramid of Success” [pictured below]. Coach Wooden defined success as, “peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

The Pyramid of Success stands on 15 building blocks which he believed necessary to attain his definition of success, with industriousness and enthusiasm at each corner. In his book, Wooden on Leadership, he defines each of these building blocks and details how he put them into practice and how they might be used in an organization. If you haven’t read it, it’s a must-read.

Outside of the Pyramid, Coach Wooden also wrote a list of 12 ‘Secondary Traits’ he saw as vital for any leader to have. Although he defined these 12 traits in terms of leadership, we see an undeniable connection to ‘presenting’. These traits, once developed and used sincerely, can directly impact how effective you are in educating, persuading, or inspiring any audience – which are the three main reasons we message.

Below are the 12 Secondary Traits defined by Coach Wooden. Under each is how they play a role in effective presentations.

1.  Affability: Friendly, likable, cordial.

To be an effective communicator, it’s important for our audience to perceive us as friendly, or at the very least, cordial. If we are unlikable or perceived as ‘cold’, we face an uphill battle. Simply put, people have a difficult time listening to people they don’t like. Your audience may not like what you have to say, but if they like you, they’ll at least give you the respect of listening and consideration.

2.  Appearance: Clean, neat.

What we choose to wear and how we groom ourselves says a lot about the respect we have for both our audience and the message we have to share. Don’t let your appearance distract your audience from your words. Know what’s appropriate dress for your audience and the occasion. When you’re clean and neat, you’re easy to look at – in turn making you easy to listen to.

3. Voice: Proper use of tone and pitch.

Words are important, but how we say those words is equally as important. Your volume, inflection and pace help to convey the exact meaning of your words. Practice your presentation out loud and record yourself. Do you sound convincing or do you sound flat?

4. Adaptability: Adjust to the environment.

It’s rare to walk into a presentation environment and everything be just as you planned. Even if you get all of the technology to work, there’s usually too many or too few seats, the screen is too small, the room is too hot – you get our point. Great presenters are prepared for the unknown. Their presentation principles stand, but their execution is flexible. They understand that each environment requires a unique approach; there’s no one ‘right’ way to do it.

5. Cooperativeness: Harmonious co-worker with faculty, team, and community.

Presentations are rarely a one-way communication. At some point we open up the floor to questions and interactions with our audience. When we do this, we must cooperate with them, creating an environment and candor that’s productive for all involved. We must submit the attention while our audience asks questions or discuss a point, giving them the respect of a listening ear followed by a thoughtful, honest response.

6. Forcefulness: Back up your ideas with firmness, not ‘bull-headedness.”

In regards to communication, firmness shows confidence and resolve while ‘bull-headedness’ shows cockiness and fear.

7. Accuracy: In choice of men, in judgement, in technique, and reacting quickly to emergencies.

Our reputation is built on our words and our actions. As T. Harv Eker said, “how you do anything is how you do everything.” Treat each decision, in what to say or how to act, as if it’s the most important decision of your life. And if you don’t know what to do or say, admit you don’t know.

8. Alertness: Be alert to observe weak spots in the opposition, in your own team, note fatigue, etc., and be quick to make the necessary corrections.

Similar to adaptability, we need to remain present (the period of time now occurring) as we present to an audience. We must tune into their body language, their receptiveness, and what is or is not ‘clicking’. If our audience looks disengaged, uninterested or confused, we cannot continue on in the same fashion. We must make an immediate correction to either our delivery or the content we’re sharing.

9. Reliability: The boys must know that they can depend on you.

How can you be reliable to an audience? Start on time and finish early (or on time). Talk about what you said you were going to talk about. Make your message easy to follow, understand, and act on.

10. Cheerful, optimistic disposition: Think positively rather than negatively. Sincere optimism builds confidence and courage.

We can’t only share ‘good’ news. There will be times we will have to be the bearer of ‘bad’, ‘shocking’, or ‘scary’ news. We’re not saying to share bad news with a big smile on your face, but you can share bad news with an optimistic disposition. Our audience almost always takes on the same disposition to a problem we have. If we share bad news with a bad attitude, we’ve created another problem outside of the original problem. Bad attitudes usually breed bad action.

11. Resourcefulness: Each individual and each team is a separate problem. Use the right appeal for each.

Each audience we present to deserves a unique version of our presentation – tailored to their specific environment, attitudes and culture. To deliver an effective presentation, we must first know everything there is to know about who we’re presenting to. An audience knows a canned presentation when they see and hear it. Canned presentations don’t win; customized presentations do.

12. Vision: Provide the incentive, a picture of the possible.

As the old adage goes, “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them.” Give your audience a road map so they can follow along. At no point should your audience be surprised by the content you’re covering or what you’re asking them to pay attention to or act on. If you want retention and action, share your vision and repeat it often.