Leaders

Think of people/coaches you have played with or against a create a list of…1.Qualities/Characteristics of a good leader.2.Qualities/Characteristics of a bad leader.

Top 3 Leaders List

What is a Leader?

• Create a word for each letter of LEADER that describes what a leader is.

• L• E• A• D• E• R

LEADER

Leader

•You can’t be a leader until you first learn how to follow.

Builder or Wrecker?

• You’re either a builder or a wrecker. Which one are you?

Builder or Wrecker?

I saw them tearing a building down, A gang of men in a busy town. With a ho-heave-ho and a lusty yell They swung a beam and the building fell. I asked the foreman, “Are these men as skilled As the men you’d hire if you had to build?” He gave a laugh and said, “No, indeed! Just common labor is all I need. I can easily wreck in a day or two What builders have taken a year to do.” And I thought to myself as I went away, Which of these roles have I tried to play? Am I a builder who works with care, Measuring life by the rule and square? Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan, Patiently doing the best I can? Or am I a wrecker who walks the town Content with the labor of tearing down? Author Unknown

Coach K

“Talent is important. But the single most important ingredient after you get the talent is internal leadership. It’s not the coaches as much as one single person or people on the team who set higher standards than that team would normally set for itself. I really believe that that’s been ultimately important for us.”

Coach Yow, N.C. State women’s basketball

“The quality of your team leaders can make or break your season.”

Coach Pitino, Louisville Men’s Basketball

“Teams that have strong leadership have a decided advantage. If you look at the great NBA teams of 1980’s and 1990’s, one of the common threads is they all had great veteran leaders with the group: Larry Bird (Celtics), Magic Johnson (Lakers), Isiah Thomas (Pistons), Michael Jordan (Bulls). Each had his own style but they all demanded excellence from the people around them. Not just once in a while, not just when things were going good for them, but all the time.”

Mike Candrea, Arizona Softball

“Having great leadership is a big key to success. It’s really the leader’s team because they are the ones who the rest of the players look up to when setting the standards. Our team will go as far as our leaders are willing to take us.”

Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers

“On every team, there is a core group that sets the tone for everyone else. If the tone is positive, you have half the battle won. If it is negative, you are beaten before you ever walk on the field.”

Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers

“Contrary to the opinion of many people, leaders are not born. Leaders are made, and they are made by effort and hard work.”

Lauren Gregg, U.S. Soccer National Team Assistant Coach

“Leadership on any team is critical to success…Often leadership is awarded by being elected captain by your teammates or selected by the coaching staff. However, not all leaders are also captains, and just because you are not a captain doesn’t mean you cannot lead.”

Josh Pastner• Walk-on freshman led the Arizona

basketball team to the 1997 National Championship without hardly playing a minute.

• Contributed to the team in other ways: film break down and helping teammates improve their skills during and after practice.

• Made sure teammates were confident, focused, prepared, and mentally tough rather than being a distraction.

• Currently the Head Coach of the University of Memphis men’s basketball team.

Miracle (Scene 7)

Ray Lewishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcSBw76_tpk

The 7 R’s of Respected Team Leaders

1. Role Model: All leadership begins with self-leadership.

• Respect is earned by walking your own talk and effectively leading yourself.

• Must be able to model the commitment, confidence, composure, and character you expect from your teammates.

The 7 R’s of Respected Team Leaders

2. Remind: You must continually remind your teammates about what is important (WIN philosophy…What’s Important Now).•Common goal, game plan, chemistry, etc.•Remind teammates that commitments and sacrifices will pay off in the end.

The 7 R’s of Respected Team Leaders

3. Reinforce: Spend a lot of time reinforcing the positive strides your teammates make.•Compliment teammates often to build their confidence and create a positive team environment.

•Defer the glory to your teammates (Use “We” when win and “I” when lose.)

The 7 R’s of Respected Team Leaders

4. Re-energize: There will be times during practices and competition when YOU will need to pick up the energy level and enthusiasm of your teammates.

•Provide a spark of inspiration to turn a passive team into a passionate team.

The 7 R’s of Respected Team Leaders

5. Reassure: Because there are so many obstacles, setbacks, and adversities involved in every season, you will need to reassure your teammates when they are feeling nervous, scared, frustrated, helpless, and hopeless.

•ALWAYS be optimistic and provide a sense of hope.

The 7 R’s of Respected Team Leaders

6. Refocus: You will need to spend a lot of time helping your teammates refocus their negative thoughts on something more positive and productive.

•Shift their minds from distractions and problems to workable solutions.

The 7 R’s of Respected Team Leaders

7. Reprimand: You must have the ability to constructively confront and reprimand your teammates when necessary.

•Hold your teammates accountable to live up to and maintain your team’s rules, standards, and goals.

Exploring Leadership: Understanding the Rewards, Risks, and Responsibilities of

Leadership

What is leadership? (Define it on paper)

Leadership• “The only definition of a leader is someone

who has followers.” Peter Drucker• “Leadership is the art of getting someone else

to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” Dwight D. Eisenhower

• “Leadership is influence-nothing more, nothing else.” John C. Maxwell

• “Leadership is simply the ability to bring out the best in your teammates.” Joe Montana

Most Important Slide

• There is not one single thing that you can do become a leader. Leadership is based on your doing dozens of little things every day that earn your coach’s respect and your teammates trust.

Assignment1. List the names of 3-5 leaders whom you respect the

most.

2. What makes these people so effective as leaders? List 8-10 characteristics that describe these effective leaders.

“One of the best ways to pick up leadership qualities is to draw from the leaders in your midst. Ask yourself who strikes you as being a great leader. Observe how they go about their business, try to put your finger on what makes them inspiring leaders.” Joe Torre, NYY

“People think it’s an easy thing to be a leader. It’s not. You have to

earn the respect of your teammates. You have to be willing

to challenge then as well as support them. And you have to prove you

are willing to do whatever it takes.” Larry Bird

Risks of Being a Team Leader1. You Will Constantly Be Watched.• Leadership is a full time job. You must

continually conduct yourself in a manner that earns the respect of your teammates and coaches.

• This means you can’t take a day off at practice. You can’t act like a fool on the weekends. You must get the job done in the classroom. You can’t cut corners in the weight room. Everything you do is being noticed by someone and has an impact.

“A Leader can’t make excuses. There has to be quality in

everything you do. Off the court, on the court, in the classroom.”

Michael Jordan

Risks of Being a Team Leader2. Trust and Respect are Extremely Fragile.•Earning your coaches’ respect and your teammates’ trust takes a long time…could take weeks, months, and even years.•One cutting remark, lie, indiscretion, or unethical act could destroy your credibility in an instant.•Once you lose your team’s trust and respect, you might never get it back.

Risks of Being a Team Leader3. You Won’t Always Be Liked•You will be put in situations to do and say things that won’t always be popular with all of your teammates.

•Your job is not to be the most popular person on the team. Your job is to do what is necessary and what is right. That’s the only way you’ll gain respect.

Risks of Being a Team Leader

4. Some Teammates Might Be Jealous of You.•Some teammates might be jealous of your leadership role on the team. They might feel that they deserved to be captain and are upset because they weren’t selected.

•Might be jealous of other things like your special relationship with your coach.

Risks of Being a Team Leader

5. You Must Deal With Conflict•Various conflicts will arise between teammates and coaches over the course of the season and you will need to manage and minimize them.

Risks of Being a Team Leader

6. You Will Take the Heat When Things Go Wrong.•Leadership is often a thankless, unnoticed, underappreciated job.

•You will take the heat when things go wrong but you might not get the credit when things go well.

Risks of Being a Team Leader7. You Will Be Between a Rock and a Hard Place.•You may find yourself in some difficult situations between your teammates and your coaches. As a leader, you are expected to be a mediator between each of these groups.

•Each group will have different expectations and demands of you.

•At times you will feel torn in different directions.

Risks of Being a Team Leader8. You Might Be Disappointed.•You will investing a lot of yourself in the success of the team. It feels great when you and your team reach your goals, but it also hurts deeply when you fall short.

•Disappointment is the risk that people take when they pour their heart and soul into something.

•Taking the leadership risk and possibly falling short is much better than not taking the risk and living the rest of your life with regrets.

“During the championship years, the most important leaders were

Bill Cartwright and Michael Jordan. I relied on them to solve minor problems and give me an

accurate reading of what was going on with the team.”

Phil Jackson

ASSIGNMENT

1. Which of these potential risks concerns you the most?

2. Are you willing to take on a leadership role despite these potential risks? Explain.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership

1. Lead Drills, Warm-ups, etc.• Most coaches will expect you to lead the

team in warm-ups and drills during practice.

• They will expect you to get your teammates organized and keep everyone in line.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership2. Set the Mental and Emotional Tone for the Team.•Your coaches will expect you to set the tone of the team for practices and competition. They will expect YOU to start practices off right with the right attitude, focus, and work ethic.

•Your coaches will look to you to refocus the team when practices get sloppy or lethargic. They will look to you to create a positive momentum going into competition and change the momentum when it isn’t going your team’s way.

•You must be the mental and emotional spark plug for your team.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership3. Keep the Coaches Informed About Team Issues. •Your coaches will expect you to keep them informed about issues that impact the success and psyche of the team.

•They will want to know things like: who might be in conflict with whom, how athletes are accepting their roles, if anyone’s social life is getting out of control, etc.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership

4. Provide Input On Team Decisions.•Your coaches might ask for your input on a variety of decisions that will affect the team. This could include minor or serious decisions.

•Your coaches will look to add your insights to help them make decisions that are in the best interest of the team.

•Keep the conversations confidential and understand that the coach makes the final decision whether you like or agree with it the final decision.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership

5. Talk With Struggling Teammates.•Your coaches will expect you to talk with teammates who are struggling with their performance or role on the team.

•It is your job to understand them, support them, challenge them, and figure out what can be done to get them back on track.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership6. Handle Conflicts Within the Team.•Many coaches will want you to get involved with team conflicts when they occur. Your job is to find out what is going on and then find a solution to the problem.

•Solve small problems on your own without notifying the coach. However, there will be some situations where your coach will the best and only person to properly take care of the problem.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership

7. Plan Team Activities.•Some coaches will expect you to act as the team’s social coordinator to plan events that will build team unity.

•Make sure everyone is invited and involved.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership8. Be Loyal To the Coaches and Support Their Decisions.•THIS IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY!!

•Coaches will tell you things they will not tell your teammates because they respect and trust you.

•Respect and support the coach’s decisions. Do NOT ever bad mouth them to your teammates. Show a united front to the rest of the team.

•Do not do anything to break the sacred trust between you and your coach.

Responsibilities of Team Leadership

9. Be the Spokesperson for the Team.•Your teammates will expect you to occasionally go to your coaches with various concerns/problems they might have (personal, roles, playing time, etc).

Responsibilities of Team Leadership10. Keep it Confidential•Be careful never put yourself in a situation where your teammates think you are a spy for the coaches. Once labeled a tattletale you will lose the trust and respect of your teammates forever.

•Your teammates expect you to keep their conversations confidential. The quickest way to lose their trust is to tell someone else what a teammate told you in confidence.

•Keep your problems within the team. Stories and rumors spread and get exaggerated within athletic departments and schools.

“A leader has to earn the title. You aren’t the leader just because

you’re the best player on the team, the smartest person in

class, or the most popular. No one can give you that title either. You have to gain the respect of those

around you by your actions.” Michael Jordan

“You don’t stand up and raise your hand and tell everybody that

you’re the leader. You earn the honor. It’s given to you by your

teammates. They see you step up inbig situations and help guys get

through tough times.”Jason Giambi, NYY

ASSIGNMENT1. Which 3 roles are the most important for you

to play?

2. Which 3 roles are the least important for you to play?

3. Are there any other expectations that aren’t on the list?

4. List 3-5 major insights you gained from today.

Team Leadership Self Evaluation

Two Kinds of Leaders1. Leaders by Example: Lead by not what they say but more in how they conduct themselves.•These are athletes who consistently work hard in every drill, play with pride, keep their cool in pressure situations, and do the right thing on and off the field.

2. Vocal Leaders: Display the same characteristics of Leaders by Example, but they go a step farther by willingly stepping outside themselves to verbally encourage, motivate, challenge, and hold teammates accountable.

Leaders by ExampleInvolves 4 Main Characteristics:

1.Commitment2.Confidence3.Composure4.Character

Commitment• Self-motivated and self-disciplined.

• One of the hardest workers on the team.

• Cares passionately about the team’s success.

• Competitive.

Confidence• Believes in self on and off court/field.

• Wants to perform in pressure situations.

• Mentally and emotionally resilient following mistakes.

Composure• Able to keep emotions in check.

• Controls negative emotions.

Character• Does the right thing on and off the court/field.

• Responsible, accountable, reliable.

• Honest with coaches and teammates.

• Trustworthy.

• Treats people with respect.

Vocal LeadersInvolves 6 Main Characteristics:1.Commitment2.Confidence3.Composure4.Character5.Encourager6.Enforcer

Vocal Leader: Encourager (75%)

Servant• Willingly does the grunt

work.

• Takes the younger athletes “under their wing.”

• Listens and supports teammates.

Confidence Builder• Understands each

teammate.

• Helps teammates feel good about themselves.

• Reaches out to struggling teammates and provides support and encouragement.

Vocal Leader: Encourager

Refocuser• Helps teammates stay mentally

tough when faced with adversity.

• Emotionally intelligent to sense mood of team.

• Refocuses teammates when they are down or distracted.

• Communicates a sense of optimism and hope.

Team Builder• Unifies team around a common

goal.

• Establishes and focuses team on a common goal.

• Helps teammates understand, accept, and feel appreciated for their roles.

• Brings team together and builds team chemistry.

Vocal Leader: Enforcer (25%)• Courage to confront.

• Holds self and teammates accountable to high standards. Demanding.

• Constructively confronts undisciplined teammates.

• Handles conflict in a firm, fair, direct, and consistent manner.

Assignment1. What are your strengths as a leader?

2. What should you continue doing to maintain and build upon these areas as strengths?

3. What are your areas to improve as a leader?

4. What are some specific actions you can take to improve these areas?

“It’s important to be yourself. Many athletes make the mistake of trying too

hard, and they end up not being themselves. That won’t get it done. The

last thing you want is to have people say, ‘That’s really not him.’ People will

see right through that. They might even think you’re putting on an act just to be

named captain by the coaches.” Joe Montana

“My advice to young leaders is don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. Just be yourself and do your job as best as you can…If people perceive your dedication to do what is right, they’ll cut you some slack when you do it wrong. So strive to be a good person and set a good example.”

Bobby Bowden FSU Football