I was about thirteen years old when I first started working at a
local baseball diamond snack bar. This means that I've had many, many years of
working for other people. Some of those people were incredible bosses. Some of
them were most definitely not incredible bosses. But the experience of it all
created a deep curiosity inside of me around the concept of leadership. The curiosity
ran so deep that I pursued an additional degree in School Administration, with
a focus on interpersonal leadership.
Throughout my time in the workforce, I've had jobs in the retail
industry, in restaurants, in crown corporations, in finance, and of course, as
an educator. And regardless of how different any of these paths may have been,
the common denominator throughout--be it good or bad--was leadership. Even though,
at times, I may have been the “boss”, I always had more seasoned leaders to
guide me along the way.
And here's the conclusion I've drawn from witnessing countless group
dynamics in action...
Your leaders will make you or break you.
They will make or break your businesses.
They will make or break your teams.
They will make or break your goals.
They will make or break your willingness to give your all.
The reason why is because first and foremost, all of these are made up of PEOPLE.
Not profits. Note shares. Not wins. Not medals. Not nepotism.
PEOPLE.
If people aren't treated with respect and worth, then bad
things start to happen.
Experience has shown me two dominant scenarios when it comes to
running the show; there are those that consider it their right as the boss and
there are those that consider it their privilege as the leader. One focuses on
what they can get their teams to do and the other focuses on how they can make
their teams feel.
Of course, in any setting, productivity and outcomes
matter, but in all of my time working on teams, I can confidently say the
following: when leaders care about how their teams feel, those teams will
naturally, go above and beyond to show you what they can do.
Leaders set their teams up to succeed knowing that the rising
tide lifts all boats, whereas on the contrary, bosses set themselves up to succeed
believing that the ocean isn't big enough for all of us.
A couple
of weeks ago, a candidate in a course I was teaching shared a video about the privilege of leadership (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5jmSZFyWQk)
and I was surprised by
how deeply it struck a chord with me. It actually triggered me in a way that
completely caught me off guard and I needed some time to sift through my
underlying feelings about it.
Eventually, I realized it was this line...
"The person you report to, your direct supervisor, is more
important to your health than your family doctor..."
This.
THIS.
Then in
the depth of my musings I was sent an article from the Alberta Lacrosse Association titled “Why
Kids Quit Sport; Alberta Lacrosse Asked Them: July 2017” https://activeforlife.com/alberta-lacrosse-why-kids-leave/.
The article bases its assertion on the statistic that retention, especially
in minor lacrosse, is abysmal, yet not many organizations have asked kids why they
are not returning. The ALA found that families do not return to lacrosse
because of “coaching, sportsmanship, and club culture”. Again….
This.
THIS
Both of these scenarios speak to me about the paramount
importance of leadership and relationship building.
It is why I'm so passionate about what it means to be a leader;
because 90% of all doctor visits are linked back to stress. Because the
majority of that stress is caused in the workplace and by extension bosses. Because
I have been on the doorstep of mental health leave due to poor leadership and
workplace culture.
It is why
I'm so passionate about what it means to be a leader; Because 16% of those that
quit lacrosse in 2016 said they were dissatisfied with club culture. Because the growth of the sport I love so much is being threatened. Because I have watched my own child cry when it comes time to give his all at the local level.
And because I've witnessed, time and time again, people use
their position as a sword to be wielded instead of a tool to serve others.
Understand that waking up every day to hold a piece of another person's
life in your hands is a
responsibility...not an advantage.
Please understand that volunteering your time to build love and passion for
sport, and to teach young athletes to give their all, is a responsibility; not
a social hierarchy.
The best leaders I've ever been blessed to work with are also
the ones that weren't afraid to say "I'm sorry" and "I was
wrong" and "I hope to grow alongside you."
To all of the leaders in my life that truly live from a place of service,
thank you from the bottom of my heart. While your guidance and example have
shaped me in more ways than I will ever know, your humility and grace will
shape the world in more ways than you will ever know.
