Leadership lessons from pop culture
The BIG Takeaway™
newsletter
April 25, 2022

​What leaders can learn from TV, sports and movies this week

Hello current and aspiring leaders!

This one goes to eleven.

Today is edition No. 11 for The BIG Takeaway, which, ironically is the same number that star NBA basketball player Kyrie Irving wears on his Brooklyn Nets jersey.
  • Speaking of ironic, here is one my favorite clips from Seinfeld (16 seconds).

​This week I am going to focus on the subject of emotional intelligence or, as it is known, EQ.
  • To show how critical EQ is to leadership I will use an example from a basketball game last week where Kyrie Irving gave the crowd the middle finger.
​
👉​Amazing stat: Zero.
  • Number of Boston Celtics fans that like Kyrie Irving.
​
​Off we go.

Rich Trombetta
@trombettarich
April 25, 2022
Section No. 1: This week's big takeaway
Being smart with your emotions is critical
Images: NFL, NBA
Kyrie flips the lid
A lesson in emotional intelligence

The context: NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving flipped off the crowd during a playoff game last week against the Boston Celtics; he was fined $50,000.
  • Irving spent two seasons with the Celtics and he is universally despised in Beantown.

  • The crowd was yelling at him the entire game and, after hitting a clutch shot, he appeared to have had enough.

  • In addition to the gesture, he also yelled at a fan on his way to the locker room.

Watch this clip: Kyrie Irving flips the bird at the crowd (near the end of the 46-second video).

What we can learn: When a leader loses control of their emotions things can go south very quickly.
  • I spoke with Steve Romano, Ph.D, the founder and CEO of Olistica Leadership about Kyrie's actions.

    "[Irving] didn't have the ability to manage that level of criticism. He took it personally," Romano said. "He was overpowered by his impulses."

  • Romano also mentioned that this is a good example of the "shadow side of self-regard."

    "[Kyrie] has the inner confidence to succeed," Romano added. "[However], when a person's self-regard gets too high it can turn into a liability. They get overconfident and can lose perspective."

  • Romano shared a powerful example using his hand, fingers and thumb to illustrate "flipping the lid." Here is a video that provides a great explanation.

    "At the end of the day EQ is about being smart with emotions," Romano told me.

My take: Kyrie ended up with three competitors: the Celtics, the crowd and himself.
  • The Celtics started as the most formidable opponent in this situation as they are the ones who were on the court defending Irving.

  • Having professional athletes trying to stop you would be enough for most; Irving decided to take on the crowd as well.

  • Irving has called himself a "basketball genius," stomped on the Celtics logo after a playoff game last year and has made statements that the world is flat. The third opponent? Kyrie's mind. 

THE BIG TAKEAWAY:  ​
  • Technical skills are important; emotional intelligence is essential.​
​ACTION STEPS

😀​​What you can do on your own: 
  • ONE: Review the exercises on this web page.

  • TWO: Take an EQ assessment.​
    ​
  • THREE: Add the songs below to your playlist to help you remember the importance of emotional intelligence.

    ​How can you not love the lines "I will be your knight in shining armor, Riding across the desert on a fine Arab charger." Go to 3:25 of the Rolling Stones video; you will not be disappointed.

    ​    "You will be mine, you will be mine, you will be mine all mine..."
😀😀​What you can do with others:
  • Use our discussion guides with your team or other colleagues to dig deeper into this topic. (Instead of a book club I like to think of this as our "movie-or-TV club") This week: EQ for teams.​​
Did you know we can design a custom leadership program based on topics like the one above? Click the button to learn more.
Section No. 2: Take 30 seconds
Learning from commercials
 Video: Powerade
Choose empathy 

  • Simone Biles is arguably the greatest gymnast in the world.

  • She withdrew from the team competition at the Summer Olympic Games in 2021 due to what she stated were mental health issues.

  • Her decision created a polarized firestorm of debate with some calling her a quitter and weak; others offered unconditional support.

  • The commercial above focuses on the idea that "pause is power" and that taking time to reset and recharge is not just OK, it is essential to success. This commercial has created some conflicting opinions as well. Ugh.
​
THE BIG TAKEAWAY: ​ 
  • I will stay out of the polarized debate and instead offer this perspective: A clear mind leads to better results. I think, hope, plead, beg, implore, pray we can at least agree on that.
Section No. 3: What to watch this week
Image: Netflix
📺 Here's what I will be watching this week:​​
  • ​"Ozark"-  Final episodes begin on Friday.
  • "The Offer" - A look at the making of "The Godfather." 
  • The NFL draft starts Thursday. Take a look at our past newsletter about Tom Brady.
  • Say happy birthday to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver by watching more NBA playoffs; he turns 60 on April 25.
  • Bullsh*t: The Game Show on Netflix - if you don't know the answer make one up. Isn't that just a political debate?
 Section No. 4: Quick info and dogs
 Image: Pexels
Here are some quick links:
  • 🎓 Learn: Follow Daniel Goleman, the author of "Emotional Intelligence" on LinkedIn
  • 💼 A business life hack: How to get kicked out of Zoom meetings. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
  • 💪 Inspiration: If you don't cry or question what you are doing with your life after watching this video you have no soul.
  • 🐕​  Smile: Our weekly dog video. ENJOY! 
Section No. 5: Have fun today
I am begging you to please take a few minutes and visit this site and have some fun. 
https://drawastickman.com/ 

​You're welcome.
That's all for now

Thanks for reading and I hope you are enjoying this newsletter.

​Please remember:
  • We archive our stories and put them here for the world to read so feel free to have a look.
  • If you have any ideas or feedback Contact me with your thoughts.
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Your email will be mine, it will be mine, it will be mine all mine...oooh oooh oooh

​Rich Trombetta
​@trombettarich

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