As a coach, developing great leaders often starts with empowering athletes. John Kessel, USA Volleyball Director of Sports Development, explains how coaches can create a self-reflective learning environment that enables leadership development in all players.
Learn more about John Kessel.
Leadership is, as myself, is being the best role model I can be. So, the role model of a coach and a parent is incredibly powerful. And through that, that comes the leadership that you are going to be showing in tough times, as well as good times. One of the law skills is learning and reading, I think, about leadership. If you base things on outcome, as a leader, then you’re missing this whole incredibly important part of leadership development called process, and the discovery and the learning and the guiding their discovery, as a leader.
I used to say, “Do this,” because that’s the way I was taught. Now, I guide their discovery and it takes a little bit longer, but it also makes the athlete learn it. So I don’t have kids on my team when they make a mistake, looking over at the bench all the time, because I’ve guided them to figure things out, to be on their own. So it’s almost like I’ve got 12 assistant coaches who can figure it out on their own. And, I think, being the best learner you can be is a big part of how you can be a better leader.
