Lead By Example

“One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate, committed, dedicated, and motivated, you go first!” ~Marshall Goldsmith⠀
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From all of my years of coaching, this photo is one of my favorites. Before every game our team would go down the line one by one giving high fives before running onto the court for introductions. The last player was always our libero (the defensive player in the other colored jersey). Because she is a defensive player, somehow we started the goofy tradition of me giving her a ‘low five’ instead of the high fives given to every other player. This moment captured here happened before every game as well as the sideline chat she and I would always have while they checked starting lineups and gave her permission to sub in. Those moments of connection, conveying both passion AND confidence, were something I know we both cherished as silly as that seems.⠀
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What I’ve learned is that your team will never exceed your passion, commitment, or belief. If you’re lucky, they will match it, but often they won’t even do that. So, it is absolutely critical that you as a leader exude that passion, commitment, and belief in every word and action. Easier said than done, right? From experience, when we get it right, it’s pretty magical though!⠀
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What are some of the little ways we can demonstrate these things as leaders?⠀