The
semester has finally come to an end. You
have finished up your finals and now you have some time to take a step back and
reflect.
I
spent a little time that last couple days thinking about the Loyola Greyhounds
Leadership Academy. What are we trying
to accomplish with the leadership academy and how are we doing? I don’t have all the answers but I do know
that each member of the academy brings something unique to the table. We are all given the tools to grow our
leadership skills. I enjoy getting to
work with you all and hope we can continue to build the program.
One
area that I want to focus on is helping Leadership Academy members grow from being
a Leader By Example to a Vocal Leader. Many young leaders have no problem leading
by example. If fact, for many people it just comes natural, it is part of your
DNA.
But
what about that next step? Sometimes young leaders are a little nervous to step
up and be the enforcer on the team, to be the person who vocally encourages and
sometimes challenges teammates. Often times, especially in team sports, the
junior and seniors on the team fill the role of Vocal Leader. They not only enforce the rules and keep the
team on track but they by their use of encouragement have helped build a
stronger team. There is often a learning
curve to move from Leader By Example to Vocal Leader.
The
leadership model that Jeff Janssen presents shows that the core of leadership
is having the commitment, confidence, composure and character needed to be a
guiding light to your team. You are not
telling (or yelling) the way, but rather showing them the way. You have heard
coaches talk about doing things a certain way (maybe call it the Greyhound Way!)
The
move from being the hard-working and diligent Leader By Example to the Vocal
Leader takes time to develop and can seem daunting at times. So what the Leadership Academy is doing is
giving you the tools, the background and support to develop your Vocal
Leadership skills.
Talk
to your coach and get some feedback on what your coach is looking for from you
as a Vocal Leader. It might just be the
role of Encourager. Giving your teammate
some praise after a great practice.
Giving a little pep talk on the side to a teammate that is struggling. If you need some practice, watch this great
pep talk by Kid President - http://youtu.be/l-gQLqv9f4o. Pass this video along!
So
your first assignment as a Vocal Leader is to talk to your coach, get some
feedback and then start using your leadership to build your team up.
A
team ebbs and flows during the season. What can you do to keep the team afloat
and racing towards success?
Have
a great break and I look forward to seeing you in January.
Just
a reminder the next session of the Loyola Greyhounds Leadership Academy is
Sunday January 25 in the afternoon.
Oh
– and since we are talking about
Best
wishes,
Dave
Gerrity
Associate
Athletic Director
PS
– Kid President mentioned Robert Frost so I thought I would throw this in –
The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost
Two
roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And
sorry I could not travel both
And
be one traveler, long I stood
And
looked down one as far as I could
To
where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then
took the other, as just as fair,
And
having perhaps the better claim,
Because
it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though
as for that the passing there
Had
worn them really about the same,
And
both that morning equally lay
In
leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh,
I kept the first for another day!
Yet
knowing how way leads on to way,
I
doubted if I should ever come back.
I
shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere
ages and ages hence:
Two
roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I
took the one less traveled by,
And
that has made all the difference.
