The document discusses Phil Jackson's philosophy of leadership in basketball based on his experiences coaching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. It emphasizes the importance of teamwork over individual players, trusting teammates, maintaining composure under pressure, and empowering everyone on the team to contribute to the group effort. Jackson draws from Zen Buddhism and uses basketball as an analogy for leadership principles like being aware of the present moment and surrendering the ego for the benefit of the team.

1. By: Phil Jackson

2. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 1
Second Coming
 Basketball is a sport that involves the
subtle interweaving of players at full speed
to the point where they are thinking and
moving as one.
 They need to trust each other on a deep
level and know instinctively how their
teammates will respond in pressure
situations.
 If one player is out of sync psychologically
with everyone else, the ream will never
achieve the harmony needed to win a
championship.

3. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 1
Second Coming
 A great player can only do so much on
his own.
 It isn‟t a brilliant individual performance
that makes great teams, it‟s the energy
unleashed when players work together
towards a common goal.
 Good teams become great ones when
the members trust each other enough
to surrender “me” for the “we”.

4. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 2
A Journey of a Thousand Miles Starts With One
Breath
 I would push so hard to succeed when
things weren‟t going my way that it
would hurt my performance.
 Don‟t let anger cloud the mind.
 Awareness is everything.
 The power of We is stronger than the
power of Me.
 “I can‟t” is no excuse.

5. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 3
If You Meet The Buddha In The Lane,
Feed Him The Ball
 A spiritual search.
 Met Hakim, who introduced him to the
faith of Islam.
 “Arguing isn‟t where faith is. That just
feeds the ego. It‟s all in the doing.”
 A prayer, then peace.

6. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 3
If You Meet The Buddha In The Lane,
Feed Him The Ball
 Jackson tried various forms of meditation, but
Zen philosophy made the most sense.
 Zen students at Mt. Shasta Abbey.
 Zazen meditation helped him focus on being,
and not letting thoughts run the mind.
 He taught himself to be immersed in the
action, instead of trying to control it.
 The Intersection of Zen and Christianity.

7. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 4
Experiments In The Cockroach Basketball
League
 A transformative leader, and what it
means to empathize with others.
 Scottie Pippen: His father‟s death.
 Listen to those who follow, and look up
to you.

8. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 4
Experiments In The Cockroach Basketball
League
Applications in Leadership:
 “My goal was to find a structure that would
empower everybody on the team, not just the
stars, and allow the players to grow as
individuals as they surrendered themselves to
the group effort.”
 Listen, without judging others.
 Horace Grant. Phil learned to observe
things, and act appropriately, without being
distracted by self-centeredness.

9. Sacred Hoops
 You are put on a team at work, and
asked to fill the “team leader” role. What
would you do to empower others, and
keep them focused on the group effort?

10. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 5
Selflessness In Action
 Motivation is triggered by fear or greed.
 Motivation is triggered by love for the
game.
 One is not better than the team.
 Solve the Michael Jordan problem.
 Hard to succeed when one is shinning.
 Figure out how to get everyone involved.

11. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 5
Selflessness In Action
 Sometimes you have to take risks.
 Changing Me to We.
 Individual needs come 2nd.
 Leader has to criticize to break bad
habits.
 Let the players lead themselves
sometimes.

12. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 6
The Eye of Basketball
 Formulate a vision.
 Everyone has a role.
 Knowing your role.
 Work with what you got.
 Confiding in the star player to get the
message across.
 Know what team mates are going
through.

13. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 6
The Eye of Basketball
 Help expand vision.
 Treating players the same.
 Let the team correct themselves.

14. Sacred Hoops
 What type of people make up a good
team? Consider what type of attitudes
you would like to have on your team.

15. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 7
Being Aware is More Important Than Being
Smart
 The history of leaders
 The market is not always led by the
smartest.
 Know where you came from

16. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 8
Aggressiveness Without Anger
 Keep your cool.
 Logic always defeats anger.
 Become your own Zen master.
 Time is a pressure cooker.

17. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 9
The Invisible Leader
 Chen Cen (Chinese Leader during 3rd Century BC) -
Wheel Theory. The strength of a wheel is not determined
by the number of spokes in a wheel, but by the specific
and meticulous placement and spacing of the spokes
within the wheel.
 Leadership needs a “Middle Path”. Too much of Laissez
faire or too much control is a quick way to lose your
followers.
 “Value-Based” leaders enlist the hearts and minds of their
followers through inclusion and participation (referent
power).
 O‟toole (Author and Personal Consultant), “Leaders must
begin by setting aside that culturally conditioned „natural‟
instinct to lead by push, particularly when times are tough.
Leaders must instead adopt the unnatural behavior of
always leading by the pull of inspiring values.”
 Treat everyone with the same care and respect you give
yourself

18. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 10
Coaching Michaelangelo
 Think back to positive experiences and
outcomes when in stressful situations.
 Michael Jordan, “I‟d rather see it done
than hear it done.”
 Followers are just as Impactful as
leaders. Michael Jordan‟s departure
from the game showed the Bulls and
Jackson how much compassion and
cohesion is found within faithful
followers.

19. Sacred Hoops: Chapter 11
You Can‟t Step In The Same River Twice
 Setbacks can be a good thing. They allow you
to focus on what is important to you and the
organization. It‟s a test of character and
defines you as a person. (Losing Michael
Jordan)
 No emergent leadership. Without Michael
Jordan to help guide the team, it virtually fell
apart.
 “Losing is a lens through which you can see
yourself more clearly”
 Winning isn‟t everything. “Being able to
accept change or defeat with [dignity] give you
the freedom to go out on the floor and give the
game your all