When Shaquille O’neil left the Orlando Magic, Anfernee Hardaway became the new team captain of the team. The team captain is the leader. During the game, he is entrusted with steering the team to victory. When Shaq left the Lakers, the same case happened. Kobe Bryant became the new team captain. Yet, both the Orlando Magic and the Lakers didn’t succeed with their new leaders. The Magic made the playoffs under Penny’s leadership yet never got past the first round, so did Kobe and his Lakers. Many critics attributed it to the team’s lack of talent and depth. There were some who said things would have been different had both Penny and Kobe underwent leadership coaching.
Leadership coaching will show a leader, such as a team captain, how to become more effective. It will help one to enhance his capability of generating unity and team spirit. Think of leadership coaching as a blacksmith, and the leader as the sword. The sword is already sharp, but with the blacksmith’s help, the sword can even be sharper, thus increasing its effectiveness and abilities. That is the purpose of leadership coaching. With it, a good leader can become a better leader.
Penny never got his shot again, after severely injuring his knee. Kobe on the other hand, got a second chance, in the form of Coach Phil Jackson. The Zen Master is known for leadership coaching, he did it before with Michael Jordan, now the Lakers need him to do it again with Kobe.