I was remembering a great leadership lesson I learned from the legendary UCLA coach, John Wooden. I was fortunate many years ago to join about 20 other high school coaches in a private round table session with Coach Wooden on the Bruin campus. 

At the time Dennis Rodman was an NBA star getting much attention because of his antics and demonstrative style.

I asked Coach Wooden, “Coach, how would you handle a player like Dennis Rodman?”

Without even pausing he looked me in the eye, pointed his finger at me and said, “Young man, you handle things, you work with people.”

Wow.  Did you catch that?

You handle things, you work with people.

He went on to explain that any leader must work with those under his authority, not always easy but always necessary. I learned that day that there is a big difference between “handling things” and “working with people”.

You handle things, you work with people. -Coach Wooden Click To Tweet

As a leader you must take your people wherever they are, and work with them to get them where you want them to be.

Have you ever approached a situation with the mindset of, “I’ll handle this”, forgetting that the situation is made up of people?   We must remember that every “situation” you and I deal with involves people and relationships; and that means emotions and personal feelings will be involved. 

Consider these 9 quotes from Coach Wooden that involve leadership and relationships.

“A leader is not interested in his way but in the best way.”

“A leader is not interested in his way but in the best way.”

“It’s amazing how much can be accomplished if
you don’t care who gets the credit.”

“People want to believe you are genuinely interested in them as a person,
not just for what they can do for you.”

"It's amazing how much can be accomplished if you don't care who gets the credit." -Coach Wooden Click To Tweet


“People want to believe you are genuinely interested in them as a person,
not just for what they can do for you.”

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because
your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely
what others think you are.”

“You cannot make up for a lost day.  Don’t think you can make up for it by working twice as hard tomorrow.  If you have it within your power to work twice as hard tomorrow, why aren’t you doing it now?”

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who
will never be able to repay you.”

"You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." -Coach Wooden Click To Tweet

“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”

“Fairness is giving all people the treatment they earn and deserve. it doesn’t mean treating everyone exactly the same. That would be unfair, because not everyone earns the same treatment.”


Never forget, as a leader your greatest assets are the people around you. Surround yourself with great people, work with them where they are and together you will achieve all you are capable of achieving.


Want more from Coach Wooden? Click here for Coach Wooden’s famous Pyramid of Success!