5 Leadership Lessons from the 2016 NBA Finals

The 2016 NBA Finals was one of the most memorable series in recent history.  It truly was historic.  In fact, last night ESPN re-aired their 30 for 30 entitled "Believeland", but this time had a new ending.  Cleveland has been the poster child for bad luck and hard times when it comes to sports having not won a championship in any sport since 1964. 

"Believeland" pointed this out, agonizly so, for Cleveland fans.  But all of that changed on Father's Day when the Lebron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers completed the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history and won the NBA Championship.  The Cavs were down 3-1 to the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.  The Warriors were the overwhelming favorite with Steph Curry, the league's first-ever unanimous MVP winner (that's right...Magic, Bird, MJ, Shaq...they never were unanimous).

Watching this series unfold got me to thinking about a few lessons that we all can learn as we try to maximize our potential for success and become leaders in life. 

Here are five leadership lessons learned from the 2016 NBA Finals.

Stop Being a 'BUT'

I heard an interview with MVP Steph Curry the other night after Game 6 of the NBA Finals, in which he made a comment that got me thinking about my pre-maritial counseling.  

Wait, what?!?  

You mean it's not natural to associate Steph Curry getting ejected and throwing mouth-pieces with pre-maritial counseling?  

Our pastor said to never follow up an apology with the word "but".  It devalues the apology.  It minimizes that sentiment after you say sorry.  How many times have we said something like the following statement?  "Babe, I am sorry that I yelled at you, but if only you _________, then I wouldn't have had to set you straight."