How Steve Kerr Manages People by Defining Player Roles
The Golden State Warriors under Steve Kerr’s leadership represent what is possible when people accept their roles in order to achieve the full potential of the team. Kerr’s ability to bring players together for a common goal, sacrifice for a greater purpose, and help the team realize their potential is the hallmark of the Warriors’ run of success over the past 6 years.
Steph Curry joined the All The Smoke Podcast in January 2020 and spoke about the sustained success of the Warriors’ team.
When the conversation turned to Steve Kerr and what sets him apart, Curry provided excellent insight into Steve Kerr’s leadership style and how he manages players:
"He’s wise in terms of how to manage people. That’s a big thing in the league, no matter if it’s the first guy or the fifteenth guy. You have to be able to be honest, you gotta be able to set expectations, and figure out ways to get the best out of guys. Anyone that would've played for him will tell you, you always know where you’re at [with Steve Kerr]. If you get a couple of ‘DNPs’, he’s gonna tell you why. He’s not going to just walk by you and not say anything to you….”
“I think that’s the biggest thing for long-term success. You know who your best players are and what they need to go out and do every night, but your role players and the guys that are going to help you out throughout the regular season, and have those spot moments during the playoffs that’s gonna make the difference, they have to be engaged all year long, and it starts in the summer time and the training camp and all the way through, and Coach is the best of being able to paint a picture of how you’re going to help this team, and being real. Like, you feel that care factor that he brings.”
Steve Kerr’s own development as a role player during his NBA playing career on championship teams allows him to understand the emotions and effect that players accepting, or not accepting, their roles can have on the group dynamics on any high performing team.
Defining the expectations and roles of everybody, from stars to bench players, lets people know exactly what their job is and what to focus on. This is the care factor Curry talked about. Kerr will tell you why you are not playing. He shares with you what his vision is for your role and be honest with you. Not all coaches take this level of care when dealing with players, and that care is the key to everyone accepting their role and knowing exactly where they help the team reach its highest level of performance.
Kerr’s authenticity in communication and dealing with players is crucial. A coach must gain and earn the trust that is required for such transparent conversations. Players can see that Kerr cares and knows he will be honest with them. Once the players know you care, you have earned the trust to be honest and hold them accountable to their defined role and the standards of the organization.
There are plenty of teams with talented players, but getting those players to accept lesser roles for the greater purpose and goals of the team is where leaders are able to take good teams and become great. Bringing a team together and getting everyone to buy-in to the team concept is what is seen on championship-caliber teams and represented by the Golden State Warriors.
Curry begins speaking about Steve Kerr’s management style at the 22:45 mark in the below video:
