As an Athletic Director, I believe three of the most important traits of effective leadership are:
1. Be where your feet are planted and be present in the moment.
Leadership requires being fully present. Whether you are celebrating a championship, supporting a coach through a difficult moment, or simply walking through the halls, people need to know you are engaged, accessible, and invested in what is happening right now.
2. Empower others to lead and make decisions.
Great leaders do not feel the need to have every answer or make every decision. My responsibility is to surround myself with great people, give them ownership, trust their expertise, and create an environment where they feel empowered to lead. When you empower others, you build a stronger organization and develop leaders throughout your program.
3. Be a servant to those you lead.
Leadership is not about being the person at the top. It is about serving the people you are responsible for leading. My job is to remove obstacles, provide support, create opportunities, and help coaches, athletes, and staff become the best versions of themselves. When you serve your people well, they know you genuinely care about them and their success.
Ultimately, leadership is about presence, trust, and service. Be present. Empower people. Serve others. When you do those three things consistently, you create a culture where people feel valued, trusted, and motivated to lead.
Putnam County junior Myah Richardson recorded 13 kills and served up five aces to help the now 7-1 Panthers register a thrilling 25-17, 23-25, 25-17 victory over Fieldcrest on Tuesday night at R.M. Germano Gym in Granville. https://t.co/i0kpnMejih
“No team, organization or culture simply drifts into excellence…it’s a result of intensional effort and purpose…It’s built over time through trust, alignment, and consistency.”
— Chapter 4: ‘Standards of Excellence.’
#ConsistentExcellence
📕 🔗 https://t.co/YpGfca0TmO
Great Assistant Coaches …..
• Stay composed during stressful situations
• Support the head coach in public
• Aren’t afraid to do the dirty work
• Believe in all the team members
• Strive to be a learn-it-all
• Find ways to be useful
Assistant coaches who want to become head coaches: Don’t spend so much time trying to look like a head coach that you stop being a great assistant.
Master your current job.
Make your head coach better.
Make your coworkers better.
Develop players.
Build relationships.
Take ownership.
Learn everything you can.
The best preparation for your next job is excellence in the one you have.
Today reminded me of a few things.. happiness matters….a year ago I was closing the door on an experience that did not end how I dreamed it would and opened the door to a new one, where I feel included, appreciated and most of all valued…