Leadership Lessons from the World of Sports

While I have never been an athlete, I have always appreciated the talent and skill that goes into becoming a great athlete. I was always more interested in what made these people natural leaders among their teammates as well as in their lives. Let’s look at what leaders today can learn from some of the greatest athletes in history.

It Takes Hard Work to Be a Leader

Not everyone is cut out to be an athlete or a leader because of the enormous commitment to hard work, dedication and practice. Vincent Lombardi once said “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal or any goal”. Are you a leader who is willing to do the hard work needed to succeed?

Lead by Example Instead of Words Alone

It is a known fact that most employees are not willing to work any harder than their manager or supervisor. That’s why teamwork and leading my example are so important as a leader. John Wooden once stated “Make sure that team members know that they are working with you, not for you”. Do you roll up your sleeves and work side-by-side with your employees or give them orders from the sideline?

Be a Positive Source of Energy

No sane leader tries to motivate his or her team by being a downer and demotivator. Instead, great leaders check their energy and make sure they are projecting positive emotions and statements. Don Shula said “My responsibility is leadership, and the minute I get negative, that is going to have an influence on my team”. What kind of energy do you send out to your employees and the company as a whole?

Keep Practicing at Being an Effective Leader

There is much truth in the old saying “practice makes perfect”, and while no one is perfect, talents and skills can be greatly improved. Leadership requires daily practice and awareness of areas that need to be improved. Chuck Noll, past coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, said “You can’t make a great play unless you do it first in practice”. What do you do to practice at becoming a better leader?

Take Intelligent Risks

No leader is without errors and those who never try something different or new in their leadership skills, risk becoming stale and ineffective. Sometimes, nothing is gained without taking smart risks. If one fails, try again. Making no mistakes might mean that little is being done. Wayne Gretzky is known for saying “100% of shots not taken don’t go in”. Do you play it safe or try new ways at being a leader?

Expect Great Things as a Leader

In order to become a great leader, many would argue that you need to see yourself as one. Great leaders have high expectations for themselves. They don’t rest on their laurels, but expand their possibilities. Michael Jordan said “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them”. What kinds of expectations do you hold for yourself?

Final Thoughts on Leadership Lessons from the World of Sports

There are far too many great athletes that had something to say about leadership. It seems like the two go together naturally. Steve Young tells us to compete against ourselves to become better leaders. Magic Johnson said to give to your teammates, not yourself. Muhammed Ali knew that faith and confidence were his most valuable leadership characteristics. Terry Bradshaw felt that confidence was the main ingredient for successful leaders. And Wille Mays leaned on dedication to his sport to become a great sports leader in history.

What kind of leader are you? Do you lead by example, create positive energy, take smart risks, and expect more of yourself?

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