Leadership

     "Leadership is the art of getting others to want to do something that you believe should be done."  I read this from a book I am reading for class this summer.  The class is about Project Management and it has a lot of great information about leadership.  As the summer is well under way, leadership is a big deal.  Summer is voluntary, and as the years have gone by it seems like more players are getting bigger egos, resisting to join their team, or giving excuses and not coming.  It is hard to get 120 different players, from different backgrounds, and different values to focus and commit toward achieving the same goal and vision.  Still 99% of our team is there grinding to get better, but it takes a leader to gather the team together and focus them towards our goal.

     Ever since I began playing football, coaches told me I need to be more of a vocal leader.  But, as my high school DB coach Kevin Wilson would say "don't talk about it, be about it!"  This has been my motto ever since.  The coaches however want a vocal leader. Screaming, yelling, and enthusiasm looks and sounds good to a coach, but that doesn't mean it is effective to the fellow players.  I personally hate people who scream and yell, then fail to back it up.  There has been plenty of these type of players in my football career.  That is why I choose to lead by example and try and make my words count.  I don't say much, and when I do it's in a calm manner telling people what they should do and why it is important.  I want my words to carry weight... when I say something I mean it.  That is my role as a leader and that is how I play.  Everyone has their own style.  Thankfully we have a strong set of leaders this year and I believe we have the strongest leadership that I have seen since I have been here.  That is attribute to my fellow teammates.  Hopefully we will continue to work and grow leadership to focus this team and accomplish our vision and goals...

-Student of the Game