#13: Mark Messier, NHL Hall of Famer—Stay Attuned to Your People

How Leaders Lead with David Novak

Today’s guest is NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier. The man hardly needs an introduction! He’s won the Stanley Cup a whopping six times and is one of the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorers.

He’s a legend of the game. But he’s also widely regarded as one of the best leaders in the game – not just in hockey, but in all of sport.

In this conversation, you’ll get a glimpse into his leadership style and the incredible awareness he has of the people around him.

You don’t have to be a hockey coach to know: you can’t win all those Stanley Cups alone. And Mark’s teams succeeded so often because he was always tuned into his teammates. He knew how they were feeling. What would motivate them. What they needed to hear in a big moment.

He calls it a spidey sense. But it’s the kind of superpower we can actually get better at. And this conversation with Mark is the best way to learn that great leaders stay attuned to their people.

You’ll also learn:

• How to navigate the loss of a top talent (from someone who went through Wayne Gretzy getting traded away from his team)
• Three specific elements that comprise a winning team
• The #1 reason teams fail – and how you can prevent it
• What to say (and what not to say) when you step into a new leadership role