Codify Leadership - but Don’t Confuse It with Leadership

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— Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11) November 30, 2025

Teams love to talk about leadership. We create captains, titles, and  committees. We “codify” or “formalize” leadership because structure helps set expectations. Your captains will do a great job and you can make their work easier. 

But titles do not create leaders. They do not replace leadership.

A famous quote captures the truth:  “Your actions speak so loudly that I cannot hear a word you say.”

Leadership in volleyball always comes back to behavior. You lead by what you model, not by what you announce.

What Leading Without a Title Looks Like

Leadership is not mysterious. It’s not reserved for seniors. And it’s not something you inherit. It is built daily, choice by choice.

Leaders do things like:

• Encourage teammates daily. Make someone better because you showed up.

• Be the best teammate possible. Humility and generosity win locker rooms.

• Bring energy and energize others. Your presence should elevate practice.

• Be positive. Negativity drains; positivity multiplies.

• Give your best effort. Effort is the one skill nobody takes from you.

• Be coachable. Feedback is a gift. Accept it with gratitude.

• Never be a distraction. Don’t steal attention.

• Model excellence in the classroom. Discipline travels.

• Do the dirty jobs. Leaders sweep gyms, chase balls, and take extra reps.

• Be the first to ask, “How can I help?” Service is leadership’s core.

These behaviors define your leadership qualities. They answer the leadership question that matters:

"Are my actions making my team better?"

You don’t need a title to lead. You need habits.

Because on every team, in every season, leaders reveal themselves by consistent, selfless action.

Lagniappe. "Keep the middle honest."