That's Not My Responsibility.....or is it?

Recently I spoke to a team about Team Leaders. Leaders are athletes who are looked up to by their teammates for one reason or another. This leads me to this.......Leaders have a very important responsibility. Leaders on a team have much more than themselves to think about. They did not ask for the responsibility, but it is theirs none the less. What leaders do with this responsibility has a major effect on how the team performs.

If you are an athlete that is a leader, or if you are training to be a leader on a team in the future, take some time to think about the responsibility. Leading is more work than honor. Good leaders are humble and work to make the team the best it can be. Team leaders may be put in the spotlight at times, but they should not be concerned with getting themselves in the spotlight. Be more concerned with helping to resolve problems among teammates, encouraging, motivating, and communicating with the coaches so that everyone is on the same page. Develop your leadership ability through books, videos, other leaders, and any other means that are available to you. These skills will stay with you well past your individual sport and you, along with those you come in contact with, will be better for it.

"Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth." James MacGregor Burns, Leadership Author