RULE IS A RULE

RULE IS A RULE

Usually the more leadership ability a person has, the more quickly he recognizes leadership—or its lack—in others. In time, people in the group get on board and follow the strongest leaders. Either that or they leave the group and pursue their own agenda.

There is a famous story that shows how people come to follow stronger leaders. It happened in the early 1970s when Hall of Fame basketball center Bill Walton joined Coach John Wooden’s UCLA team.

As a young man, Walton wore a beard. He was confident, casual and had an air about himself. It has been said that the coach told him his players were not allowed to have facial hair. Walton, attempting to assert his independence, said that he would not shave off his beard.  Wooden’s no-nonsense response was, “We’ll miss you, Bill.”

Needless to say, Walton shaved the beard.