Former NBA Star Smith: ‘Is Versatility Your Blessing Or Your Curse?’
Charles Smith spent 10 years in the NBA, playing with the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. During that window, he was often asked to assume new roles, sometimes in mid-season. “I’ve always wondered how much more I might have been able to accomplish if I had been able to be in one position at one place and get really good at doing certain things,” Smith said. “But that wasn’t what my teams needed from me.”
The one skill he worked on constantly was shot blocking, and still today he ranks in the NBA’s top one percent of all-time shot blockers.
After retiring, he participated in the Executive Entrepreneurs program at Stanford University and has recently partnered with Fierce Inc., a global leadership development and training company whose client roster includes Apple, Coca Cola and HBO. One of Fierce’s critical areas of focus involves helping teams communicate better.
“There’s an old saying in sport,” Charles said, “The game tape or practice tape doesn’t lie. If you fall down, it’s there for all to see. Businesses don’t have tape like sports teams do, but they do have measurables.”
And if the tape doesn’t get you, observed the 10-year NBA player, a good teammate will. “If I messed up on the floor, Charles Oakley would be the first one to say, ‘C, get your butt over there when you’re supposed to!’” recounted Charles of his former Knicks teammate. “We need more of that accountability in corporations. I found that in corporations, there’s more room to deflect mistakes or hide lack of hustle. We need to speak truth to each other.”
Listeners to this podcast will enjoy Smith’s no-nonsense insights forged in the heat of world-class competition, including:
• The major difference between “accommodating difference” and ducking an issue using “fake tolerance,” and why the latter can be the kiss of death to organizations
• How leaders limit their team’s (and their own) development by focusing on nurturing “sweet spots” of talent at the expense of becoming more versatile
• How (and why) having hard conversations enables leaders to build more, rather than less, trust with their teams.
This podcast is a slam dunk for leaders who want to push themselves and their teams to the next level. Have a listen.
Check out the full Corporate Competitor Podcast interview archive and subscribe to new episodes.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
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2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
