As we sat and watched Duke become Louisville’s latest victim during the NCAA Elite Eight, it reminded us of one of our favorite leadership books, Leading with the Heart, written by Coach Mike Krzyzewski. (See our recommended reading list)

Here are just a few of Coach K’s thoughts on leadership:

• People want to be on a team. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to be in a situation where they feel they are doing something for the greater good.
• Too many rules get in the way of leadership. Rules put you in a box. Sometimes, people set rules just to keep from making tough decisions. (For more on this topic, see my post from May 27th “Please, no more rules.”)
• Luck seems to favor teams where the members trust one another. As a leader, when you make a mistake, admit you are wrong. Apologize in front of the whole team.
• If you put a plant in a jar, it will take the shape of the jar. But if you allow the plant to grow freely, 20 jars might not be able to hold it.

After reading the book, it became obvious why Coach K has been so successful. How do you and your company stack up against his common-sense advice for leaders?