Leadership Misconceptions

#1  “Team building” and “People building” are the same thing

We all see the teams posting pictures of them having a pizza party, going bowling, catching a local college game, etc. and at first glance, we may think these teams have great culture and leadership. While they may not have a bad culture, these images of having fun and hanging out as a team does not mean they translate into a strong culture which has been intentionally built around skill sets regarding all the various themes of leadership. There is no doubt those moments are fun, they have great impact, and are memories that can last a lifetime. But if we stop short with these activities and go no further we are doing our players (the future leaders they are meant to be) a disservice. They most likely will not reach their full potential in these areas. Kids hang out all the time. They are constantly with teammates, family, and friends, and if that was all it took then there would be a lot more inherent leadership displayed on teams across the country. What we want to do is develop skill sets, build our players as people first, and then the team will build itself as a result. Creating better people will create better athletes and in turn, translate into better teammates and ultimately a better team.

#2 We have “good kids” so we have great leadership 

Having well-mannered kids is great. It certainly helps. We all want to have players that listen, do what they are asked, have great manners, do the right thing, are supportive, etc. Having players that are already equipped with these traits can certainly help things. But just because our players are good kids, it doesn’t mean they are great leaders. In many ways, it simply means they are compliant. Leadership is not about being nice. It’s about influence. It’s about bringing out the best of those around you and within yourself. Growth is often preceded by and accompanied by failure, struggle, and friction. These things are necessary ingredients for improving ourselves as leaders. A player who simply says the right things and doesn’t “act out” may be doing so simply so they don’t create any of that friction. Leadership often means having difficult conversations and can require uncomfortable moments. A player looking to be compliant make do all they can to avoid these moments, which again may not hurt things, but they certainly won’t help propel you further. 

#3 Good culture means we don’t have any problems

This may be the biggest misconception out there. The teams that seem to have a great culture, from the outside, appear as if they never deal with issues. You might think, “they don’t have the same problems as us. Lucky!” OR, if you begin implementing a program to address a culture that you will never face problems. Not so fast. Every program has its problems, and many of us deal with the same issues but perhaps just in different ways or at different times. Teams with no seniors have issues. Teams with seniors have issues. Teams that lose have issues. Teams that win have issues. It may seem like life is easy when a program is an undefeated and prohibitive favorite going into the playoffs, but make no mistake issues are threatening around all corners. Winning breeds expectations. Talented teams have more mouths to feed for shots, or touches, or exposure for the next level. Players are constantly bombarded at all times from the outside world. Family, friends, college coaches, teammates, opponents are all potential stumbling blocks or distractions that can break up team chemistry or ruin positive momentum that’s been created. What having a great strong culture does do, however, is it provides a framework for handling these issues. It may not keep a problem from arising but it can help contain the issue. It can keep the problem from getting outside the locker room with a quick 5-minute conversation between a player and coach, or even more importantly, between a player and another player. It may keep one small problem from turning into a bigger problem or morphing into two or three separate issues as well. Those problems, no matter who you are, are coming, but intentionally building a culture on a firm foundation will help you navigate the waters when they get rough. 

#4 Once in place our culture is “fixed”

We’ve all heard coaches, maybe you’ve said this yourself, that you aren’t sure why something isn’t working in the game. I mean, we worked on it in practice two weeks ago! Why can’t our kids remember what they were supposed to do or how to execute in that situation? Does this mean we will have to go over that tactic or again? Or address those fundamentals late in the season? Yes, yes it does. This is all about constant grooming and maintenance. We can build a great house on a firm foundation but if the house doesn’t undergo regular inspection or maintenance it will eventually begin to fall apart. It may mean cleaning the house or doing the yard, a new roof or water heater, keeping the drains unclogged, changing the light bulbs, etc. All of this is necessary to running a household, especially if you plan on staying in that house for quite some time. You can get a nice new hair cut, a clean shave, brush your teeth, and put on new clothes to get ready for a nice evening out, but shortly after your hair will grow again, your mouth won’t stay clean for long, your clothes will need to be washed. To present your best self you will require constant grooming. The same goes for any good culture. You can build a great one, but then you must PROTECT it. If steps aren’t taken in this regard, if you aren’t constantly taking the pulse of your program, then all the themes you worked so hard to build will begin to slip. It may not seem like much at first or perhaps you think you can make it to the end of the season, but the next season will come quickly and any residual issue that is left to fester during the off-season will be much harder to handle come next season. Leadership, therefore, is a lifestyle and must be maintained all year long. 

#5 - We "lead by example"

This is a very dangerous path to go down. Some would say itis the laziest form of leadership because you are "leading" by just being there. The bottom line is it is not enough to say you lead by example. If it were that simple then everyone would be on board and follow exactly what you are doing 100% of the time by only observing. When someone says they lead by example, what others typically heard is:

“I’m supposed to follow you just because you are you? Who do you think you are?”

Leadership isn't about you, but it does start with you. Your "example" can be to provide legitimacy to your position but it does not make you a good leader by itself. If you are not able to create followership through your influence then true leadership has not taken place yet. What really matters is the consistency of your habits, behaviors, and choices and how that brings others along with you on the journey. Leadership is about creatign that same consistency in the others around us. If we simply leave it up to the example it is a very slippery slope to rely on. Instead, intentionally use your influence to build those around you.

Interested in tackling and overcoming these misconceptions? click here.

In Service, 

Kyle Kavanaugh | #CultureMatters