The Threshold Lab

• Tommy Sheppard | Executive Leadership Coach and Former NBA General Manager and President | "Love people, not things."

  Tommy Sheppard's career spans over 30 years in the NBA, which includes most recently serving as the General Manager and President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. Known for his humility, generosity, and world-class ability to connect with people, Tommy now works as an executive leadership coach helping leaders align performance with purpose. Between his time with the Wizards, Denver Nuggets, and USA Basketball, he's made significant contributions to the sport of basketball in multiple ways. He's also served as an Adjunct Professor for Georgetown University's Sport Industry Management program since 2009. In this conversation, we discuss the human side of leadership including his non-negotiables (e.g. character, self-awareness, integrity). Tommy shares stories from his decades in the NBA, how he navigated the uncertainty of COVID, why curiosity matters more as you advance, and what leaders often get wrong about developing people. This whole conversation offers a grounded and wide-ranging look at what it means to lead well, especially when the stakes are highest.Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:[6:23] — Love People, Not Things[8:34] — A Non-Traditional Path to the NBA[12:50] — Beginner's Mind for Leaders[17:23] — 3 Pillars Every Team Needs[23:43] — How NBA Teams Evaluate Character[29:19] — Leadership Can't Have a Bad Day[36:56] — Building a Healthy GM-Head Coach Relationship[41:12] — Why Leaders Need to Check Their "Dashboard"[45:18] — Preparing for Tough Stretches Before They Happen[52:11] — Hardest Stretch of His NBA Career [55:36] — Check In On Your People[59:05] — Being Present at Home[1:04:52] — Treat 12 Like 1 and 1 Like 12[1:09:41] — 3 Questions to Help Foster a Great Relationship[1:12:42] — What 30 Years in the NBA Changed My Mind About[1:16:21] — The Legacy That Matters MostLearn More About Tommy:To learn more about Tommy's work and coaching, check out his website here: https://tommysheppard.com/ Learn More About Zach:If you’re a collegiate or professional coach striving to win more and live better, I'm offering free discovery calls in December to share resources and offer support for your journey. You can sign up for a call here: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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• Plus-Minus-Equal: How to Find the Right People to Help You Grow

  Former UFC fighter, Frank Shamrock, once shared a simple framework for how to grow more effectively with the right people in your circle. This episode explores his Plus–Minus–Equal process and how mentors, peers, and rising performers each play a critical role for you in raising standards and sustaining excellence. If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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• Who Helps You Breathe? Why Leaders Need People Who Put The Oxygen Mask On For Them

  We all know the phrase, “Put your own oxygen mask on first.” Yet many leaders, coaches, and parents struggle to do it. Using two recent conversations (one with an Olympic-level coach and the other an NFL agent), this episode asks a deeper question, "Who in your life puts the oxygen mask on for you when you won’t?"If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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• Mastery Through Less: What Film Editors Teach Us About Deliberate Subtraction

  This episode explores why excellence often comes not from adding more, but from deliberately subtracting what no longer strengthens your craft. Borrowing from the film industry, we discuss how great editors shape award-winning films not by cramming in more scenes, but by cutting the ones that are not essential. You’ll discover why deliberate subtraction is one of the most overlooked tools for improving performance and sharpening your communication as a coach.If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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• Trust Your Wings: How Top Performers Stay Confident When Mechanics Disappear

  Most athletes treat the offseason as a technical laboratory to refine their mechanics and strengthen their physical skills, but sometimes this creates challenges in-season when competition arrives. In this episode, Zach shares a couple of personal stories from his work with Major League Baseball players and a valuable proverb on the importance of building trust in your identity as an adaptable competitor. Listeners will learn practical strategies for improving adaptability and competing when their mechanics and physical skills breakdown in-season.If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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