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Sr. Vice President, Orlando Magic basketball team, since 1989
Author of 37 books
43 years in professional baseball and basketball as a player and executive
Served as general manager, Philadelphia 76ers and manager of Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks
Motivational speaker, averaging 150 appearances each year
Has appeared in publications like Sports Illustrated, Reader’s Digest, The Wall Street Journal
Wife: Ruth; Father of 19 children, 14 adopted from four nations
CBN.com – THE PATTERN FOR SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP
Sports were always a passion for Pat in high school and in college. At Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Pat was the catcher for the baseball team. Five days before the big freshmen versus varsity team basketball game, Pat was asked to be in charge of coordinating the entire basketball show for the community, including halftime entertainment, and printing and selling tickets. The event was a huge success, and that night Pat realized he was a leader. He says that this one thing opened the door for every other leadership role he has ever undertaken because of everything he learned.
In the years since then, Pat has become fascinated with the subject of leadership. Recently, Pat’s publisher asked him to offer the leadership skills learned in raising his own 19 children in a book on developing leadership in young people.
For 24 months, Pat sent out more than 9,000 questionnaires to various leaders throughout the country. While collecting stories, Pat realized that a pattern was emerging. “Many talked about the same components of authentic leadership,” says Pat. “Though their stories were different, the principles for inspiring, instructing, and motivating young leaders were the same.”
Principles of leadership do not change, and Pat discovered seven
qualities of effective leaders:
INSPRIRING FUTURE LEADERS
Gen. Tommy Franks, who led our armed forces in Iraq in 2003, made a strong impression on Pat during Pat's research for the book. Gen. Franks told Pat that his father, a quiet man, taught him by example. Gen. Franks says he learned that you don’t need to talk a lot to lead. In a phone conversation with Franks, Pat mentioned that his son, David, a Marine, served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 while Franks was there. The general said, “You tell your son someone else loves him besides you.” Pat says that brought a lump to his throat.
Many young people are willing to serve and need opportunities and encouragement from adults. It’s one thing to be encouraged by family and another to receive affirmations from adults outside the family, like coaches or teachers. Our job as adult leaders is to open the door for the next generation and give them opportunities to lead. While any child can develop into a leader, young people need role models and positive influences. “Kids need heroes,” says Pat. “They are constantly looking for older people to pattern their own lives after.” Appeal to the young leader’s sense of adventure. Listen to ideas and dreams of young people. Say, “I’m proud of you.” Encourage young leaders according to their uniqueness. Give them an opportunity to serve and lead. Don’t leave anyone out. Empower young leaders to make their own decisions. Challenge; don’t overwhelm. Inspire them to seek satisfaction. Show them that leadership is fun.
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