Friday, August 9, 2024

Reality Bytes - Leadership

To perform at a high level, have a 'why' and 'how'. Be relatable. How does this impact the team? What's in it for me?

Imagine that you're a 'stay ready' player with an upcoming match against a top team. Do you sulk because of playing time? 

What's best for the team? Do you go to your coach and say, "I think I should start and play a lot." Is that in the best interest of the team, your teammates, the program? Or is it all about you?

Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra says, "On every team, there is always a pecking order." Udonis Haslem was a grizzled mentor at the end of the bench who rarely played. Did he complain? He knew and executed his role. If he didn't want that role, he could retire.

Part of the MVB culture is leader-led (e.g. Captains and upperclassmen) player development. If you don't play a lot, help grow a young player who becomes a leader and a force someday. Can you suppress your ego and lead for the good of the program? 

There are probably rising frosh out there who someday will be All-Conference or even All-Scholastic. Are you there to help them or to keep them in their place? If it's the latter, is that MVB culture? Choose to be a great teammate. 

Leadership means listening, relating, and sharing influence. A former player has a leadership position with a Fortune 500 company that entitles her to buy lunches at the Executive Dining Room. She says she'll use it to reward staff by taking them to lunch there occasionally. When coworkers see more benefits available through company success, they buy in, work harder, and grow their skills. 

Everyone won't be happy all the time. For example, when the situation arises, the top players should play hard, take care of business, and allow "stay ready" players to have more opportunity to play. That's another way of leading and being great teammates. 

Grow your leadership skills and incorporate them into your ethos for a lifetime. 

Lagniappe. McDonald's has "Hamburger University." What about us? 


You never regret learning to lead. Study it now. Better leadership will result in more successful attacks and successful defenses. And that translates to the bottom line. 

Lagniappe 2. Simplify. 

Lagniappe 3. Auriemma says that basketball is like jazz. 

at