Professional Leadership*

All opinions within the blog are solely those of the author. 

*Inspired by a Blinkist review

Swing a cat and you'll often hit someone reading a leadership book. That's because leadership matters at every level of society.

Positive Communication for Leaders by Mirivel and Lyon discusses key elements within teams.

Leadership isn't just for Coach Scott Celli and his staff. Captains and team members must lead together and "foster a culture of appreciation and respect."

Greetings A warm greeting by name helps human connection. As a coach, I worked to greet each player by name each practice or game. Within the team, the same practice has value. Greeting creates inclusion and appreciation. 

Questions Cultivate a "culture of curiosity" within teams. Ask positive questions. "Why was your serve effective today?" or "what skills did you improve today?" Develop a mindset of discovery within your sport and yourself.

Compliments Everyone loves compliments. It's an art at home, school, and extracurricular activities. Does the twelfth players on the team feel as much a part of the team as the star player? That happens not just through coaching but within team members themselves. Have you congratulated "stay ready" players on their hard work helping to improve your play? Be specific when delivering compliments. "Way to attack the seam on your serve." 

Encouragement Opportunity to seize a role always exists at MVB. High performance carves out more court time, a bigger role, and recognition. Roles are always available. Who is the designated server for MVB 25? Most spots are open for the skilled, determined competitor. Even if you start on JV, that doesn't mean you can't become a varsity contributor, like the three freshmen in 2024. 

Deep Listening Listening is a critical skill, the capacity to engage and process. "Being fully present is the first step." I always remember a tiny sixth grader at basketball tryouts approaching me a minute before the session began. "Hi, my name is Naomi and I am really excited to be here." She established a presence in just a few seconds. She was the kind of player I would have wanted to coach. 

"1, 2, 4, All" Make this a key point. 1 is individual reflection. 2 is paired sharing of ideas. 4 informs small group discussion. And all is inclusiveness within a team or organization. All means all, regardless of experience, prior contribution, or graduating class. Team leaders have a responsibility to support a culture of inclusiveness. 

What are you doing to today to grow your leadership? 

Lagniappe. This quote from "Originals" by Adam Grant, came from a Lucy Stone speech in 1855. Empowerment comes from within and outside. Don't allow others to disappoint you. 

"The last speaker alluded to this movement as being that of a few disappointed women. From the first years to which my memory stretches, I have been a disappointed woman. . . . I was disappointed when I came to seek a profession . . . every employment was closed to me, except those of the teacher, the seamstress and the housekeeper. In education, in marriage, in religion, in everything, disappointment is the lot of women. It shall be the business of my life to deepen this disappointment in every woman’s heart until she bows down to it no longer."

Lagniappe 2. Have you watched a baseball game recently and heard the term "exit velocity?" Better exit velocity creates higher probability of hits (less time for defenders) and extra base hits. Red Sox minor leaguer Roman Anthony has an astonishing 'hard contact' rate of over 38 percent. Attackers want hard contact and direction ("hit 'em where they ain't").