Student-Athletes Can Be GREAT Leaders
1. They Practice.
People are not born leaders, just as they are not born knowing how to walk, read, or shoot a 3-pointer. Collegiate student-athletes have had countless hours exposed to leaders (coaches and captains). More importantly, they have had abundant opportunities to practice leadership skills. While they may not always get it right, decades of practice is an invaluable advantage.
2. They Have Skills.
Student-athletes have invested what may feel like most of their childhood into learning different athletic skills. We know that specific method of holding your wrist while serving a ball is not going to command the respect of a board room. However, student-athlete’s minds have been programmed to learn new skills. Knowing HOW to learn new skills is important in an ever evolving world of growing technology and changing environments.
3. They Multi-Task.
Time management equates to survival for the over-scheduled student-athlete. They juggle multiple schedules, stresses, and demands from coaches, professors, athletic trainers, family, friends, and administrators. Multi-tasking several responsibilities is a necessary skill that all leaders require. A great leader can also handle the various personalities of multiple people.
4. They Work.
After discussing multi-tasking, it is easy to understand the work ethic required to thrive as a student-athlete. Physical and mental demands have forced student-athletes to work harder if they want to reach their goals. A competitive atmosphere and constant accountability help student-athletes cultivate their work ethic. Great leaders need a great work ethic.
5. They Have Failed.
Student-athletes have lost too many times to count. They’ve been on the losing side of a game-winning last second score. And then they realized that miraculously, life still went on. Student-athletes are less risk adverse because they have failed and were forced to persevere the next day at practice and focus on the next contest or challenge ahead. In an era of participation trophies, collegiate level student-athletes know that not everyone always wins, and they can deal with it.
6. They Appreciate the Team.
While this may be obvious, it is no less essential to successful leadership. People follow leaders who they trust has the team’s best interest at heart. Student-Athletes learn the importance of working with their teammates and their individual supporters (coach, athletic trainer, nutritionist, academic advisor, etc.). They have listened to the experts and have taken praise, advice and constructive criticism to create the most effective plan to win. They work hand-in-hand with conflicting personalities on a daily basis in mentally and physically exhausting settings. Through it all, they inspire others and themselves to find a way to win.
Forward Progress provides in-person student-athlete workshops that focus on how the student-athletes can be more effective leaders amongst their peers on campus. Student-athletes are exposed to leadership skill building with an emphasis on how to transition those skills to their campus and team. Click here to learn more.
