We talk about leadership a lot. In the workplace, in sports teams and organizations, and frequently see those roles being glamorized in movies and TV shows (as a hockey player myself, the movie Miracle comes to mind.
Being a leader is something that many people covet for themselves, but don’t know how to attain adn there is a simple reason why.
Many people think of leadership as an assigned role or title. When people think about leadership in sports, the first images that usually come to mind are coaches, quickly followed by the captain, and assistant captains. In realtity, this could not be more incorrect.
Leadership is not a title or role that is handed to you, leadership is a set of behaviors that you choose to embody each and every day.
Be Vulnerable.
This is one of the harder skills for many to engage in, but vulnerability is the basis for creating trust in a team, a safe place and environment for your athletes and teammates to open up and share their own thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Be Present and Listen.
Being an active listener in an essential skill for any leader. People want to be heard so listening and understanding what is being communicated to you will foster more trust in those relationships but will also help you to address any problems or make changes for the betterment of the team.
You Don’t Need to Know Everything.
Nobody is perfect, including you. Progress over perfection is what we always say. Be honest when you don’t have an answer, ask for help when you need it, and remain open minded when your athletics or teammates make suggestions to you.
Lead by Example.
You can’t just talk the talk. You’ve got to walk the walk. No different than the old adage of “treat people the way you want to be treated,” it is crucial that you “show up the way you want others to show up.”
Taylor Cook | High Performance Coach
