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Top 59 Mike Krzyzewski Quotes (LEADERSHIP)

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Top 12 Most Famous Mike Krzyzewski Quotes (BEST)

To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless.
To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless.
It takes courage not only to make decisions, but to live with those decisions afterward.
It takes courage not only to make decisions, but to live with those decisions afterward.
Don’t take your culture for granted. There needs to be a constant renewal of values that lead to camaraderie.
Don’t take your culture for granted. There needs to be a constant renewal of values that lead to camaraderie.
I get a group of people who are talented to commit to excellence and to work together as one. That’s where it starts. Different talents, same commitment.
I get a group of people who are talented to commit to excellence and to work together as one. That’s where it starts. Different talents, same commitment.
Everyone’s ideas should be heard. It doesn’t matter who gets credit. As long as you’re working towards the same mission and shared purpose.
Everyone’s ideas should be heard. It doesn’t matter who gets credit. As long as you’re working towards the same mission and shared purpose.
The thing I loved the most - and still love the most about teaching - is that you can connect with an individual or a group, and see that individual or group exceed their limits.
The thing I loved the most – and still love the most about teaching – is that you can connect with an individual or a group, and see that individual or group exceed their limits.
Leadership is an ever-evolving position.
Leadership is an ever-evolving position.
When a leader takes responsibility for his own actions and mistakes, he not only sets a good example, he shows a healthy respect for people on his team.
When a leader takes responsibility for his own actions and mistakes, he not only sets a good example, he shows a healthy respect for people on his team.
I try to see each new season as a new challenge because I have a new team to work with, new opponents to encounter, and often new ideas and theories to try.
I try to see each new season as a new challenge because I have a new team to work with, new opponents to encounter, and often new ideas and theories to try.
You can see and you can listen, but you have to have moments in which you feel.
You can see and you can listen, but you have to have moments in which you feel.
Discipline is doing what you are supposed to do in the best possible manner at the time you are supposed to do it.
Discipline is doing what you are supposed to do in the best possible manner at the time you are supposed to do it.
I think some parents now look at a youngster failing as the final thing. It's a process, and failure is part of the process.
I think some parents now look at a youngster failing as the final thing. It’s a process, and failure is part of the process.

19 Mike Krzyzewski Quotes on Basketball and Communication (TEAMWORK)

“Communication does not always occur naturally, even among a tight-knit group of individuals. Communication must be taught and practiced in order to bring everyone together as one.”

Mike Krzyzewski
I don’t look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.
I don’t look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.
When you first assemble a group, it’s not a team right off the bat. It’s only a collection of individuals.
When you first assemble a group, it’s not a team right off the bat. It’s only a collection of individuals.
A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That's how I want you to play.
A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That’s how I want you to play.
Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication.
Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication.
A leader is someone who puts their people in position to be successful all the time.
A leader is someone who puts their people in position to be successful all the time.
A leader may be the most knowledgeable person in the world, but if the players on his team cannot translate that knowledge into action, it means nothing.
A leader may be the most knowledgeable person in the world, but if the players on his team cannot translate that knowledge into action, it means nothing.

“People want to be on a team. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to be in a situation where they feel that they are doing something for the greater good.”

Mike Krzyzewski
Every leader needs to remember that a healthy respect for authority takes time to develop. It’s like building trust. You don’t instantly have trust, it has to be earned.
Every leader needs to remember that a healthy respect for authority takes time to develop. It’s like building trust. You don’t instantly have trust, it has to be earned.
We’ve created a jealous-free zone… We look each other in the eye. We tell each other the truth. And we trust each other.
We’ve created a jealous-free zone… We look each other in the eye. We tell each other the truth. And we trust each other.
Throughout the season, I look into my players’ eyes to gauge feelings, confidence levels, and to establish instant trust.
Throughout the season, I look into my players’ eyes to gauge feelings, confidence levels, and to establish instant trust.
Everybody wants to take responsibility when you win, but when you fail, all these fingers are pointing.
Everybody wants to take responsibility when you win, but when you fail, all these fingers are pointing.
It is the ultimate honor for a coach to be his country's coach.
It is the ultimate honor for a coach to be his country’s coach.
Goals should be realistic, attainable, and shared among all members of the team.
Goals should be realistic, attainable, and shared among all members of the team.

“In leadership, there are no words more important than trust. In any organization, trust must be developed among every member of the team if success is going to be achieved.”

Mike Krzyzewski
The life expectancy of a team is about eight months. Then the next year, it's a whole new team.
The life expectancy of a team is about eight months. Then the next year, it’s a whole new team.
A common mistake among those who work in sport is spending a disproportional amount of time on “x’s and o’s” as compared to time spent learning about people.
A common mistake among those who work in sport is spending a disproportional amount of time on “x’s and o’s” as compared to time spent learning about people.
Each group and each youngster is different. As a leader or coach, you get to know what they need.
Each group and each youngster is different. As a leader or coach, you get to know what they need.
You don't just be a team. You become a team. Through tough games you find that you need each other.
You don’t just be a team. You become a team. Through tough games you find that you need each other.

28 Mike Krzyzewski Quotes About Life and Leadership (SUCCESS)

“I believe God gave us crises for some reason — and it certainly wasn’t for us to say that everything about them is bad. A crisis can be a momentous time for a team to grow — if a leader handles it properly.”

Mike Krzyzewski
Imagination has a great deal to do with winning.
Imagination has a great deal to do with winning.
Champions play as they practice. Create a consistency of excellence in all your habits.
Champions play as they practice. Create a consistency of excellence in all your habits.
My hunger is not for success, it is for excellence. Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows.
My hunger is not for success, it is for excellence. Because when you attain excellence, success just naturally follows.
When you win, sometimes it overshadows a poor performance.
When you win, sometimes it overshadows a poor performance.
If what you did yesterday still looks big to you, you haven't done much today.
If what you did yesterday still looks big to you, you haven’t done much today.
Courage and confidence are what decision making is all about.
Courage and confidence are what decision making is all about.
Leaders show respect for people by giving them time.
Leaders show respect for people by giving them time.
It's always an honor to be ranked high, but whatever is said about you, you take it and then take a realistic look at yourself and who you are.
It’s always an honor to be ranked high, but whatever is said about you, you take it and then take a realistic look at yourself and who you are.
I've been so fortunate in my life that my family has never been jealous of my success. They have shown true love and commitment to me by being supportive. They shared in it.
I’ve been so fortunate in my life that my family has never been jealous of my success. They have shown true love and commitment to me by being supportive. They shared in it.
Confidence shared is better than confidence only in yourself.
Confidence shared is better than confidence only in yourself.
You have to work hard at staying in contact with your friends so that the relationships will continue and live on… Friendships, along with love, make life worth living.
You have to work hard at staying in contact with your friends so that the relationships will continue and live on… Friendships, along with love, make life worth living.
I had a really bad temper, when I was growing up. Sport helped me channel that temper into more positive acts.
I had a really bad temper, when I was growing up. Sport helped me channel that temper into more positive acts.
Making shots counts, but not as much as the people who make them.
Making shots counts, but not as much as the people who make them.
I define passion as extreme emotion.
I define passion as extreme emotion.
Two are better than one if two act as one.
Two are better than one if two act as one.

“When you are passionate, you always have your destination in sight and you are not distracted by obstacles. Because you love what you are pursuing, things like rejection and setbacks will not hinder you in your pursuit. You believe that nothing can stop you!”

Mike Krzyzewski
Confrontation simply means meeting the truth head-on.
Confrontation simply means meeting the truth head-on.
The only way you're going to grow is to be in difficult situations.
The only way you’re going to grow is to be in difficult situations.
Leaders should be reliable without being predictable. They should be consistent without being anticipated.
Leaders should be reliable without being predictable. They should be consistent without being anticipated.
A leader has to be positive about all things that happen to his team. Look at nothing in the past as failure.
A leader has to be positive about all things that happen to his team. Look at nothing in the past as failure.
I think you're not a human being unless you have doubts and fears.
I think you’re not a human being unless you have doubts and fears.
When you cleanse yourself of a big victory, you may open yourself up to the opportunity for an even bigger victory.
When you cleanse yourself of a big victory, you may open yourself up to the opportunity for an even bigger victory.
The person who has inspired me my whole life is my Mom, because she taught me commitment. She sacrificed.
The person who has inspired me my whole life is my Mom, because she taught me commitment. She sacrificed.
Throughout my life, my mom has been the person that I've always looked up to.
Throughout my life, my mom has been the person that I’ve always looked up to.
The truth is that many people set rules to keep from making decisions.
The truth is that many people set rules to keep from making decisions.
I always won in my imagination. I always hit the game-winning shot, or I hit the free throw. Or if I missed, there was a lane violation, and I was given another one.
I always won in my imagination. I always hit the game-winning shot, or I hit the free throw. Or if I missed, there was a lane violation, and I was given another one.
I want to be a leader — and leadership is ongoing, adjustable, flexible, and dynamic. As such, leaders have to maintain a certain amount of discretion.
I want to be a leader — and leadership is ongoing, adjustable, flexible, and dynamic. As such, leaders have to maintain a certain amount of discretion.

Mike Krzyzewski Short Biography

Born on 13 February 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Michael William Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K, is a college basketball coach.

Krzyzewski played basketball under Bob Knight in 1969, during this time, he was also training to become an officer in the army.

He served as an officer in the army from 1969-1974. In 1980, Krzyzewski was made head coach of Duke University‘s basketball team. 

From the 1983-1984 season onwards, Krzyzewski led the Duke basketball team to at least 20 victories and a streak of 11 consecutive seasons. 

In 1991 and 1992, Krzyzewski led Duke University to its first two national championships. 

Aside from his career in coaching college basketball, Krzyzewski also coached the U.S. men’s national team in 2008, 2012, and 2016, earning Olympic gold in the games of those years.

Krzyzewski was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Further Reading:

Here are the best Mike Krzyzewski quotes so you can never underestimate the power of your own imagination.

(MUST READ)

Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life
Leading with the Heart: Coach K’s Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life

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Top Mike Krzyzewski Quotes (LEADERSHIP) - Gracious Quotes