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Pat Williams
Credits

Sr. Vice President, Orlando Magic basketball team, since 1989

Author of 37 books

43 years in professional baseball and basketball as a player and executive

Served as general manager, Philadelphia 76ers and manager of Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks

Motivational speaker, averaging 150 appearances each year

Has appeared in publications like Sports Illustrated, Reader’s Digest, The Wall Street Journal

Wife: Ruth; Father of 19 children, 14 adopted from four nations


Web Site
www.patwilliamsmotivate.com
Book
Coaching Your Kids to Be Leaders
(Warner Faith, 2005)
A Closer Look Fact Sheet
7 Keys to Unlocking Your Child's Leadership Potential
GUEST BIO

Orlando Magic's Williams Coaches Kids on Leadership

The 700 Club
February 21, 2005

CBN.com – THE PATTERN FOR SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP

Sports were always a passion for Pat in high school and in college. At Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Pat was the catcher for the baseball team. Five days before the big freshmen versus varsity team basketball game, Pat was asked to be in charge of coordinating the entire basketball show for the community, including halftime entertainment, and printing and selling tickets. The event was a huge success, and that night Pat realized he was a leader. He says that this one thing opened the door for every other leadership role he has ever undertaken because of everything he learned.

In the years since then, Pat has become fascinated with the subject of leadership. Recently, Pat’s publisher asked him to offer the leadership skills learned in raising his own 19 children in a book on developing leadership in young people.

For 24 months, Pat sent out more than 9,000 questionnaires to various leaders throughout the country. While collecting stories, Pat realized that a pattern was emerging. “Many talked about the same components of authentic leadership,” says Pat. “Though their stories were different, the principles for inspiring, instructing, and motivating young leaders were the same.”

Principles of leadership do not change, and Pat discovered seven qualities of effective leaders:

  1. Vision. A vision defines what success looks like. We must learn to challenge young people to be visionaries.

  2. Communication. We need to give young people opportunities to build their communication skills.

  3. People skills. Leaders need to effectively work with people in order to inspire them to achieve a goal.

  4. Character. Young people need to follow leaders who exhibit genuine character and build good character traits.

  5. Competence. Competence comes from approaching every task with a commitment to excellence.

  6. Boldness. Young people need to overcome shyness and a tendency to play it safe.

  7. Servanthood. Young people need to see their leadership role as an opportunity to serve others and God.

INSPRIRING FUTURE LEADERS

Gen. Tommy Franks, who led our armed forces in Iraq in 2003, made a strong impression on Pat during Pat's research for the book. Gen. Franks told Pat that his father, a quiet man, taught him by example. Gen. Franks says he learned that you don’t need to talk a lot to lead. In a phone conversation with Franks, Pat mentioned that his son, David, a Marine, served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 while Franks was there. The general said, “You tell your son someone else loves him besides you.” Pat says that brought a lump to his throat.

Many young people are willing to serve and need opportunities and encouragement from adults. It’s one thing to be encouraged by family and another to receive affirmations from adults outside the family, like coaches or teachers. Our job as adult leaders is to open the door for the next generation and give them opportunities to lead. While any child can develop into a leader, young people need role models and positive influences. “Kids need heroes,” says Pat. “They are constantly looking for older people to pattern their own lives after.” Appeal to the young leader’s sense of adventure. Listen to ideas and dreams of young people. Say, “I’m proud of you.” Encourage young leaders according to their uniqueness. Give them an opportunity to serve and lead. Don’t leave anyone out. Empower young leaders to make their own decisions. Challenge; don’t overwhelm. Inspire them to seek satisfaction. Show them that leadership is fun.

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