Leadership in Coaching: What Do You Value

To lead, ultimately I’m thinking you really need to know yourself and what you believe in–not what you are told to believe in, not what you do due to peer pressure, but why you exist.

I’m pretty confident in what I value–integrity and honesty at the top of the list. But since this isn’t about a pat on the back but figuring out ways to get better, see what I’ve done wrong as well, it’s important to go looking for other sources, people who think about this stuff or have a track record of success with it. Today that led me to a list given to me by CPT Erskine of the USMC quite a while back while I was in a Marine leadership program. You can like the Marine Corps, dislike it, but they make a conscious effort to maintain their own distinct image and values separate from the other US armed forces.

So what are the things they look for: Honor, Courage, Commitment.

I think those work with coaching–and they are things you can help athletes with, too…just as Marine officers try and instill those values into enlisted personnel. (The problem, of course, is sometimes it doesn’t work and those values don’t take root…those are the people who risk giving your organization a bad name–and I reckon that’s a different thing to consider down the road…how does leadership deal with those sorts of situations?)

Honor: Be the ultimate in ethical behavior. Never lie, never cheat. Respect human dignity and hold others to these same values. —Never cheat, don’t take unethical short-cuts. Is it just me or does it seem like very few coaches (regardless of sport) qualify as ‘honorable’? Courage: Master your fear to do what is right–to remain ethical when pressured otherwise. Lead by example. Do not fear tough decisions or moments of pressure.

Commitment: Pride, concern for others, working for the organization’s greater good every moment possible…the word that inspires others to want to be like you.

There’s that reference to ‘concern‘ again.

I think I’m good on these but I see where I ‘failed’. I think that happened this past summer leading into the season. I couldn’t fulfill all my obligations while dealing with the post-COVID which then steamrolled and made it more difficult to hold others accountable for their own actions. That’s on me and it meant that irresponsible athletes held more sway than they should have–though there’s no way to really know how much of an effect that had. No matter–that’s on me.

One of the sub-sections of ‘courage’ according to the USMC HQ documents is making sure you’ve got your moral, physical, and mental strength squared away. This is the same error I just mentioned–I pushed myself past the point of exhaustion, I didn’t let myself recover fully over several months from COVID…until I broke down. Obviously that’s a physical failure–but the mental side, the choice to continue on past the breaking point, that was a choice.

How about you reading this? If you evaluate yourself–how are you fitting with these categories…really? It’s easy to poo-poo things, say you’re doing fine in everything but are you? Or maybe you are–are you going to sit still and coast? Does knowing an organization that tries to emphasize those three things are out there make a difference in your continuing journey of self-improvement?

*** My Foundation is working on an education project about the Civil Rights Movement currently–and it ties in. Change doesn’t come from the top, it doesn’t come from a capital city. Massive change begins with motivated individuals–like good coaches and teachers. *YOU* have the ability to affect change in your community and school…it just takes a willingness to take the first step (just like any sort of self-assessment). Go for it–get better and motivate others to do the same!