Steph Curry...As Himself

Disclosure time: I really like basketball. I think I could have been in the NBA, except for three things--height, speed, and skill. What has really caught my eye over the last few years is the phenomenal success of the Golden State Warriors, particularly the impact Stephen Curry has had on the team and the league.

There have been many articles telling stories about how Stephen Curry--NBA superstar, two-time MVP, three-time NBA champion, record holder, etc.--leads. You can see some of them here:

ESPN-How Steph Curry Leads
Golden State of Mind-Kevin Durant Talks About Steph Curry's Leadership
Clutch Points-Steve Kerr Talks About Steph Curry's Leadership

I'm struck by how influential Curry is in a team full of superstars. Sportswriters call the Golden State Warriors a superteam because of the All-Stars, while extolling the real strength of the team--how it works together. This is the secret sauce of the Warriors--teamwork. These players are co-workers, colleagues.
If I were to ask you to describe someone you particularly like to work with--an ideal colleague--you certainly have some stories to tell. Chances are, you would eventually come up with a list of things like:

• They care about your success and about you personally
• They are willing to share their resources with you
• They are curious and interested
• They are willing to mentor you
• They show appreciation
• They help you expand your opportunities and perspectives
• They unify others
• They are future oriented

The list can go on. You'll see those characteristics and behaviors throughout the articles about Steph Curry and the Warriors. You'll also see that style is somewhat independent of leadership behaviors. In other words, there are clearly many types of leadership styles in play with the team. What Curry brings is a love of the work and a care for those he works with that leads to success, like:

• Helping a teammate just promoted from the G-league learn how to manage his game within the Warriors' approach (mentoring)
• Working harder in practice when Kevin Durrant was injured to increase the intensity of preparation (unifying, care about success)
• Traveling with the team and helping prepare them for games during a period of injury (unifying, caring, etc.)
• Working with outside groups to develop service and outreach activities (expanding opportunities and perspectives)

Written like this, it becomes easy to imagine how these ideas can be practiced in any setting, and perhaps just as importantly, with any personality. You can lead...as yourself.