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August 5, 2025 15 mins

Phil Jackson Leadership Case Study - How to Lead Champions

How do you coach Michael Jordan? Phil Jackson didn’t just manage the greatest player ever - he transformed him from individual superstar into the ultimate team leader.

In this deep dive, discover the 5 leadership principles Jackson used to win 6 NBA championships with the Bulls: Mindful Awareness, Me-to-We Transformation, Compassionate Confrontation, Vision-Driven Culture, and Invisible Leadership.

These aren’t just basketball strategies - they’re proven frameworks for leading high-performing teams in any organization.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

  • How to get ego-driven superstars to embrace team success
  • The art of confronting problems without destroying relationships
  • Why the best leaders make themselves “invisible”
  • Building cultures where everyone has a vital role

🎪 WORK WITH ME: 

Want to apply championship leadership principles in your organization? 

→ Speaking & Consulting: https://www.coachevanburk.com/workwithevan

📺 CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERSHIP SERIES:

This is part of my ongoing case study series breaking down legendary coaches. Subscribe for more leadership lessons from champions.

Next up: Bill Belichick and the systematic approach to building dynasties.

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Buy Evan's Book, Finding Intangibles: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SFYV3M6

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The Highest Level Podcast with Evan Burk features thought-provoking conversations with athletes, coaches, and leaders in sports, to reveal how championship team cultures are built and the keys to leadership excellence at the highest level.

Subscribe to The Highest Level Podcast:

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