The greatest thing about the playing career of the Los Angeles Lakers’ Magic Johnson was not his individual talent on a basketball court — though it was outstanding — but what he could do for a team. He made everyone better, and that became the true measure of his greatness and his leadership.

At six feet and nine inches, Johnson was tall for a point guard in the National Basketball Association. He could dribble, pass, penetrate, score, and rebound. But he united his Lakers team and inspired his teammates through his defense, his work ethic, and his attitude on and off the court. When it came down to the fourth quarter in a tight game, he simply said, “It’s winning time.” That was enough.

Leadership is not what you can do for yourself. It’s what you can do for — and through — others. It’s not about how good you are. It’s about how good you can make others. Charismatic leaders like Magic Johnson can unite people and lead them to victory. They encourage, motivate, and lift people to heights they would not attain on their own. It is not enough for such leaders to excel as individuals. They are driven to help others achieve greatness, even at the expense of their own heroics. That is the essence of leadership. That’s what you strive for.

The greatest leaders understand how to motivate people to work together as a team. It’s the team that counts. Leaders know the best teams consist of people with complementary skills committed to a common purpose and shared values. Leaders have performance goals, but they work for the good of them team. They know that when they perform individually, the team succeeds collectively.

Many people fear being insignificant — to be less than what they hope and dream. Most really want to play or work on a great team and achieve victory in business and life. Most will not attain it without the help of a leader. That is your job — to help people imagine the unimaginable. To help them attain the unattainable. To help them achieve the unachievable.

Tags: Advice, Business Tips, Developing Leaders, Leadership, Leadership Excellence, Leadership Skills, Learning, Management, Motivation, Responsibility, Success, The Mind of a Leader