The Confidence to Know Who You're Not
The Boston Celtics are not only one of the most historic franchises in sports history, they are a well oiled, high performance machine. They are led by two of the best leaders in sports in Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla. Yet, their secret weapon for success may actually be best embodied in an obscure leader you probably have never heard of.
Since 2021 when Brad Stevens shifted into the President of Basketball Operations role they have won 71% of their games, had two NBA finals appearances, 3 eastern conference finals appearances and of course the NBA title in 2024.
Their two star leaders have been well recognized and well honored with this recent run of success in Boston.
Stevens won the NBA executive of the year award in 2024. Head coach, Joe Mazzulla has been a coach of the year contender every year. Mazzulla was also an NBA all-star game head coach, multiple Eastern Conference coach of the month awards and he’s secured multiple 50+ win seasons in his 3 year tenure leading one of the east coast’s most storied franchises.
It could be easy to suggest the executive prowess of Brad Stevens paired with the X’s and O’s and focused intensity of Joe Mazzulla is the sole reason for their leadership success. Throw in some highly talented players Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and company and it’s a mix for competitive success. Their secret weapon? Assistant Coach Tony Dobbins, better known as the chief de-escalator.
Who is Tony Dobbins?
He’s a soft-spoken, calm and comforting long tenured assistant whose unique approach balances out other key members of the Celtics machine. After a college playing career that funneled into a European pro basketball stint, Dobbins entered coaching as a video coordinator in 2017. Three years later he became a full assistant coach in 2020.
He’s become the emotional stabilizer and relationship builder who works closely with Jayson Tatum, serves head coach Joe Mazzulla as a calming presence and “good cop” to referees in intense game settings.
What’s most important - he’s swinging his swing. He knows who he is, and more importantly he knows who he is not.
If you’re finding your way in this journey of high performance leadership - it’s critical that you develop the self awareness to know who you are. It’s infinitely more important to your effectiveness to know who you’re not.
Here’s how it plays out for Dobbins in Boston.
“I’m not going to be more intense than Joe or more intense than DMac (Coach DJ MacLeay) but I can offer a different perspective, or in a moment, I can offer a different lens through which to view the situation, whether it’s my conversation with a player or an official.”
This is no small soundbite. I’ve encountered many leaders who in an effort to find their way in leadership have merely copied and pasted the approach of other leaders only to find that their unique wiring doesn’t match.
Dobbins could have tried to mimic the intensity of Joe Mazzulla or the other assistant coaches. But, by realizing “that’s not me,” he has been able to carve out a unique offering he brings to the group.
His secret sauce?
Calm.
“A lot of times, in a game, the intensity level is so high, the emotional level is so high, that I can come and offer a different perspective.” Dobbins said.
Jaylen Brown, one of the Celtics star players had this to say about Dobbins. “Tony is always keeping everybody level-headed - reminding me, and reminding our team to just breathe. Managing the emotions of the game is what he speaks to a lot, because the better players - the better the professionals - can manage their stress levels and their emotions during the game, so that they can see the game clearly.”
The head coach, Joe Mazzulla had this to share about Tony Dobbins. “He’s a great communicator to the guys, but also to his staff. He’s wise beyond his years. We’re lucky to have him.”
When I stumbled onto this article about this obscure assistant coach in my weekly reading and research I couldn’t help but think about the many beautiful layers on an individual, relational and environmental level.
Some parting thoughts for you as you reflect not only on the organizations and teams you are leading, but your own personal leadership development journey. What can we take away from Boston’s secret weapon, Chief De-Escalator, Tony Dobbins. Here’s 12 reflections to think about this week.
The security of Joe Mazzulla to recognize Tony Dobbins brings things he as the head coach may not execute well on all the time. Talk about an ego in check.
If you’re a head coach or senior leader, what attributes are you weak on? Would it be most economical for you to deploy the energy and resources to get better at them or perhaps could you hire someone who is counter- you? If Mazzulla is intense and fiery, how valuable is Dobbins in being calm and relational?
Flourishing individuals operate from a place of extraordinary uniqueness. Flourishing relationships maximize the strengths of all parties. Flourishing environments multiply it all.
Flourishing individuals + Flourishing relationships + Flourishing environments can’t lose. In your organization, what is most lacking? Flourishing individuals, relationships or the environment as a whole?
Soft-spoken, calm and comforting aren’t typically attributes associated with strong leadership, especially in an alpha-male dominated NBA environment. Yet, Dobbins has found his way for maximum effectiveness.
I’m not suggesting this approach is for everyone. I think it works best because it is authentic to his wiring. If UConn coach Dan Hurley tried to change into this overnight my guess is it would be awkward, ineffective, and less than optimal.
The name of the game is to develop self awareness and confidence in your unique style. Are you copying and pasting or have you done the introspective work to find your most effective approach?
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens deserves some behind the scenes credit here as Dobbins would have been brought on board in his tenure. The contrasting styles all under the same staff speaks to strong culture. I’ve witnessed many insecure workplace environments where everyone felt the need to prove their mettle by molding to the norm.
When Dobbins openly admits, “I’m not going to be more intense than Joe or DMac” it not only speaks to his own personal confidence, but to the environment that seems to encourage being yourself. If you’re the leader of a culture are you giving people space to be themselves or are you ushering in conformity?
Somewhere along the way it seems Tony Dobbins realized his approach is bearing fruit. I fear too many leaders are busy climbing some kind of ladder that they aren’t actually interested in true effectiveness at all.
How do you know if your approach works? The truth of the matter is the recipients of the approach get the final say. Your intentions and aspirations aren’t the scorecard. The people you serve determine if your approach is effective. Dobbins has found his leadership stride in one of the best organizations in sports, this doesn’t happen by accident. It is highly intentional. Theory, test, re-test, score. Head down. Eyes wide open. Ear to the ground. It is poetry in motion. Transformational leadership at its finest.
Is a promotion your affirmation? Or the perspectives of the people you are leading? How they feel when you’re around. How do they weigh the impact of your words and your presence?
Perhaps the beginning of transformational leadership is to develop the confidence to know who you’re not. Then you are free to move about who you truly are.
Stay The Course,
