A Priceless Lesson From a Legendary Basketball Coach About Leadership and Winning

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University of Kentucky head?basketball coach?John Calipari?is a living legend who?has racked up nearly 800 wins over his illustrious career. He has guided six teams to the Final Four and?led one to a national championship.?He just?knows how to win.

Calipari?also knows?how to lead. A?"players-first" coach, he?has helped 45 of his own players earn selection in the NBA Draft.

Several years ago, while accepting the?prestigious Alltech?Humanitarian Award, Calipari?defined?the essence of true leadership in his speech with this memorable quote:

Leadership is about serving everyone under you, asking yourself, 'How do I give you the tools you need to succeed and proceed?'

Slam Dunk

In that quote, Calipari?proved that he fully understands that to lead well means to put your focus on inspiring and developing the team. That's how?servant leadership is defined?in its most raw and potent form.

As practiced by some of the world's top executives, the big idea behind servant leadership is to flip the power pyramid upside down so the leader is at the bottom, empowering and lifting up their followers to be and do their absolute best.

Whether in basketball or business, that's a break-away slam dunk.

Here's what you'll see the most awe-inspiring servant leaders do, day in and day out, that will lead to business success.?

1. They are responsive to the needs of their people

Great leaders show an interest in their people's jobs and career aspirations. They look into the future to create learning and development opportunities. They find out what motivates their best people by knowing what desires will drive each tribe member. This is about emotional engagement.

Knowing what makes each of them get up in the morning can help you develop tasks and provide incentives they will care about. And make sure it plays to their strengths to keep them engaged and learning on the job.

2. They build confidence in their people

A goal of every leader is to ensure team members have?high levels of self-efficacy. It's to give them the feeling of knowing "I've got this" and the freedom to own their decisions and even encourage?them to make mistakes because that's how they'll learn and grow.

In his speech,?Calipari said, "Don't just ask how they are doing. Instead, ask: What are you working on? How is it going? The answers will be the best indicator to find out how they are doing."

3. They share their power

Servant leaders naturally seek input on decisions that affect the business and involve the team in decision-making.?

Sure, you still have the authority to make the decision as a leader, but the clear difference is that you've engaged your team?in the process.

As a servant leader, you share power and release control because you understand that power and control come?from the whole. It's the enthusiasm and commitment the whole team has to something--to specific projects and tasks that drive organizational objectives.

4. They listen to feedback

Let's be honest. Customer-facing people on the front lines know what's happening--many even more than their bosses. Good leaders?will leverage this as a way to get more valuable feedback from employees. They will sit down to?listen and learn?something from dedicated and savvy knowledge workers.

Engagement skyrockets when employees are given that type of opportunity to provide ideas. They are excited and motivated to go to work in the morning because they know that they have a voice and their opinions count. They know that leadership is relying on them for input.?

5. They make people's lives better

This is what puts a great distance between mere managers and servant?leaders?operating in the relationship?stratosphere. In their heart of hearts, they know that empowerment of people--putting someone else's needs ahead of their own--not only leads to great business results but also to people growing and achieving?great?results in life.?

"The state's mission for me is to win titles; my mission is greater," says?Calipari. "My mission is to be a vehicle to help others reach their dreams, to be the stone that creates the ripple in their lives that goes on and on."

Bringing it home

Servant leadership is the highest form of influencing people (employees) I can think of--influencing their thinking, beliefs, growth, and development--to?unleash their power and potential so they can impact your business and the greater good.?What leader?doesn't?want that??

Your turn: Have you worked for someone who fits the mold of a servant leader? What would you say sets them apart? Leave a comment, and let's learn from each other.

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About Marcel Schwantes

Marcel Schwantes?is a speaker, executive coach, syndicated columnist, and the creator of the highly-acclaimed "From Boss to Leader" course, a life-changing 14-week journey into Servant Leadership. His work has been featured in Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, The New York Daily News, CNBC, Forbes, and others. He speaks to audiences about the human side of work, and how cultures of care, connection, and belonging outperform the competition.