What can we learn from Steph Curry about leadership? Our 4 favorite lessons

Note from the publisher: This story is part of Peak, the new desk of athletic about leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sport. Peak aims to combine readers with ideas that they can implement in their personal and professional life. Follow the climax here.

The people in Steph Curry’s orbit are very busy, as you can imagine. But when we turned to 20 different coaches and players from the Golden State Warriors and Davidson to ask for Curry, everyone quickly took time.

“I love talking about Steph,” said Steve Rossiter, a team -mate of Davidson and repeated a common feeling.

We know Curry as the greatest shooter in NBA history, but we know less about his leadership. What makes it effective? And what can we use in our own professional or personal life?

Based on our recent history about Curry’s leadership, our four favorite snap bars are here:

The power of a positive environment

One of the most surprising things for many of the veterans who played with Curry was the indispensable approach that he persecuted to lead others. When Shaun Livingston arrived in Golden State, he was in the NBA in his tenth year.

“The first thing I noticed, the first thing that stopped me was his spirit,” said Livingston. “Galvanizing the players through joy. What I was used to was her best player with a kind of iron fist and intensity. (Stephs) Energy was so much easier.”

This positive environment has paid off in a large and small way over the years.

“There is this feeling with him that you have to find a way to enjoy the process,” said Khalid Robinson, the special assistant of head coach Steve Kerr. “When you enjoy the process, you can achieve your individual goals as a player and the team achieve their collective goals. This focus and embodiment of the joy that Steph has us has made it possible for us to be so successful so long.”

The establishment of personal connections can make your feedback and your criticism more effective

As Glenn Robinson III. Signed his contract with the Warriors, he didn’t know much about his new home. When he met Curry for the first time, Curry gave him a list of three local churches that could like Robinson.

“There was a lot going on and he took the time from his day to make sure I felt comfortable when I felt in San Francisco,” said Robinson. “It showed me the kind of leader he was.”

Jeff Addiego, who heads the Warriors youth academy, rarely came to the Chase Center. But one day he spoke to Zaza Pachulia near the weight room. Curry, who was there to train, went over and asked for Addiego’s family and like the season for Jeff’s daughter Sofie, who also plays basketball.

“After Steph had gone, Jeff said:” This is crazy, “said Pachulia.” This is just a very small example of who is Steph from the square and how much influence his personal details have. “

The end?

“He has a really good connection to his teammates and the people around him,” said Robinson. “And that helps him in situations when he has to speak.”

An example that revealed the athletics at that time: after the Warriors game 6 against the Sacramento Kings lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2023, Curry was angry. So he did something that he usually didn’t do much: he spoke and called out his team.

“If you get on this bus, commit yourself for this team,” said Curry according to Draymond Green. “No matter whether you play zero or 40 minutes. You are committed to doing everything. Prepare your mind and body for this occasion. We recently embarrassed ourselves and we will never go out like this.”

Curry’s words mostly beaten due to the personal connections that he had made over the years. The Warriors won game 7. It did not harm Curry 50 points.

The little things are just as important – if not more – than the big things

Successful managers have people who want follow them. They are also observed by others all the time. Everything you do indicates the tone and culture for an organization.

“He follows people because they want, not because they have to,” said Bob Myers, former general manager of the Warriors. “If your best player is the hardest working player in the team, everyone has to work hard. If they are an honest, decent, selfless teammate, everyone has to do it.”

It started when Curry was in Davidson.

“In practice, when Steph dives on the floor, I better have my five-point a frame-ace diving on the floor,” said Rossiter. “If your best player also gives the greatest effort and everyone supports, his leadership seems to be through his leadership.”

Beyond the crazy recordings and incredible skills, Curry is respected by his colleagues because of his colleagues: “His ability to do the ordinary things over and over again every day,” said Livingston. “The simple things. The boring things.”

Acknowledge the success of others

Although you can’t really teach someone how you are happy for others, you can prove the effects he has.

When Klay Thompson Curry’s record for most three-point broke in an NBA game, Curry urged teammates to help Thompson to overthrow his record.

During the game, he kept telling the teammates: “We have to make Klay more shots. Klay needs more shots.”

His teammates all agreed that nobody is happier than curry when they meet a milestone or achieve something. And the type of support system that results from this cannot be replicated.

Of course, it seems to be curry, but it is something everyone can do.

“He loves to successfully watch his teammates,” said Myers. “Not everyone does it. It is such a rare quality to celebrate the success of other people. Only a real joy for the success of someone else.”

Elise Devlin is the author of Peak, the new athletic desk about leadership, personal development and success. She recently wrote about her experiences to try to replicate the daily routine of Bobby Witt Jr.S for a week. Follow the climax here.

Illustration: John Bradford / The athlete; Ezra Shaw / Gettyimages