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How to Be a Better Leader
Improving your leadership skills -- on and off the field.
Written by: Ben Kallen, Originally featured in: Men's Fitness August, 1999
What do John Elway, Michael Jordan and Cal Ripken Jr. have in common? They're all great players, of course -- but they're also great leaders. And the skills they demonstrate
can serve you well both on the field and off.
Here are five skills that, when properly applied, will make you a better leader. Put them into practice, and not only will your team win more often, but you will, too.
Leadership skill: Know when to take charge -- and when not to.
The fact is, people need good leaders, says Charles A. Coonradt, author of The Game of Work. "There's such a drought of leadership in our society that somebody has to fill the void," he asserts. How do you know
if your leadership is welcome? "Basically, you demonstrate leadership skills until somebody tells you to stop," Coonradt says.
On the field:
It helps to have a keen sense of when your advice is welcome and when it isn't. So pay attention: Are other players listening to you? Are they taking your advice? If so, you're already a leader. If not, maybe you should
back off or try a different approach.
In your life:
Knowing who's in charge and making the most of your own authority is one of the greatest business skills you can learn. As in sports, the key is to take as much responsibility as possible without treading on someone
else's toes. "When two people are trying to lead at the same time, you have to determine who's the boss," Coonradt says.
Leadership skill: Set goals.
As a leader, you need to consider exactly what it will take to reach your goals, and that means making sure everything you and your teammates do will go toward accomplishing those objectives.
On the field:
Most players think about themselves during a game. If you're a leader, you need to think about how everyone's doing. A good way to practice strategizing is to watch game films or even pro games on TV and think about what
you would have done to create a better outcome.
In your life:
While your objectives are easy to see in sports, work can be less clear-cut. Use the same goal-setting skills you practiced playing sports: What will it take for the company to succeed? What can your team do to help make
it happen? And on a personal level, what will it take for you to get what you want?
Leadership skill: Communicate.
It doesn't help much to know what your objectives are if you can't transmit them to others. "When you lead a team sport or get into business, then you must have the ability to communicate your goals," Coonradt
says. "How do I win here? It's obvious in sports, but it's true in business as well: Everybody needs to know what it takes to win."
On the field:
First, identify what needs to be done, then state it clearly and concisely. And when others come to you with ideas, really listen. If you get the results you're looking for, you know you're communicating well.
In your life:
Want to motivate your co-workers, your wife, and your kids? Speak honestly, and don't pretend to know more than you do. Provide good reasons for them to do what you ask. And give them the level of respect you want for
yourself.
Leadership skill: Get the most out of everybody.
How do you accomplish this aim? By reinforcing the behavior you want repeated. "Make a big deal out of the stuff you want more of," says Coonradt. "Figure out
who needs the pat, who needs the hug, and who needs the kick. And do this by listening."
On the field:
Encouraging good play often requires letting others make the best plays and take the glory. That's why it's uncommon for the best athletes to become great coaches, Coonradt says. "If you look at the Vince Lombardis,
they came out of mediocrity, but they had the ability to subordinate their ego and didn't let it get in the way of their accomplishments."
In your life:
In any arena, getting the best out of others requires rewarding good work, discouraging bad work and giving credit where it's due. This requires paying attention to the job that others are doing and then behaving
accordingly.
Leadership skill: Set an example.
Nobody's ever going to accept you as a leader if they don't think you're doing the best you can yourself. So show behavior you want to see in others.
On the field:
The best players are seen as leaders because others want to be like them. Even if you aren't the most talented player on your team, having lots of enthusiasm and a desire to put in your very best effort can be contagious.
In your life:
Doing the best you can at all times inevitably earns you respect. If you spend your time complaining, who in their right mind would want to be like you? But if you actually do something about your problems, you’ll have
plenty of people looking to find out what your secret is.