“Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.” –John Maxwell
Everyone’s got an opinion on leadership…and I love it! I hope I never get to the point where I think I’ve got all of the answers. As long as I’m living, I plan to be a coaching nerd that is always seeking to learn from those who’ve been in the game longer than I have.
Team basics 101: leadership, leadership, leadership
If we believe that coaching is more than the X’s and O’s, the wins and losses…then we’ve got to be intentional about creating a respectful environment that is conducive to leadership. L Is For L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. talks about how each of us can train our captains and team leaders to hold their positions successfully and wield their power responsibly.
One of these days (keep your eyes peeled), I’m going to write a coach’s manifesto…all about things that I believe are essential for folks who want to be coaches. 10 Things I Believe About Leadership would be the basis of one of those chapters. Unlike the post above, this one is about how coaches can be wonderful leaders and model effective leadership for their players.
Building on the previous post is How To Become A Leader That People Follow. Whenever one of my team captains comes up to me complaining about other people on the team not following or listening to them, I always ask them what they’re doing to be easy to follow. Captains that are tough to follow are gossipers, complainers, and sometimes…just plain mean. We’ve got to show them what leadership really means (helping others achieve) and guide them through that process.
The 3 Levels Of Leadership is based on a book by John Adair who is a leadership expert. Many times, coaches talk about “born leaders” and I believe that those people are out there…but I also believe that it’s a skill that can be taught. I also believe it’s the job of the coaching staff to give the athletes the tools they need in order to lead their teammates effectively. Check out this post for the three levels of leadership…they each progress nicely into the next.
This is another post based on the John Adair book called, 7 Qualities Every Leader Must Have. I really enjoy reading different perspectives on leadership…from those in the business world to fellow coaches. According to Adair, a world-renowned leadership trainer, “leadership is both a role and attribute.” Using that as a jumping off point, let’s look at what we need to give to our team leaders…beyond just a “C” on their shirt.
Leading, coaching…it’s not easy, but it’s the best job ever! We can learn from those folks who’ve not only been successful, but who’ve been continuously successful over a long period of time. Find a coach you respect and ask them to chat with you, there are so many coaches out there who are doing great things!
