🏆 The Problem with Leading by Example Only
🎬 Opening Scene
The locker room is quiet.
Everyone’s tired after a tough loss — except the captain, who’s already mopping sweat off the floor, picking up stray bottles, and putting the balls away.
No speeches. No yelling. Just steady example.
A few teammates glance over, notice, and follow along. But most just keep scrolling on their phones.
The captain sighs. Why don’t they care like I do?
They think they’re leading by example — and they are. But the problem is, nobody knows what that example means.
🧬 The Insight
“Leading by example” is one of the most overused phrases in sports. It sounds noble — and it’s important — but it’s not the whole job.
Example shows what to do.
Communication shows why to do it and how to do it together.
Without words, your effort might be respected… but not repeated.
You can hustle every rep, stay after practice, and push yourself in the gym — but if you never tell your teammates why you care so much, they might never connect your behavior to the team’s mission.
Leaders who rely on example alone often end up frustrated because others don’t “get it.”
But that’s not a lack of commitment — it’s a lack of clarity.
🏈 The Story
In Leaders Eat Last, Simon Sinek tells stories from the military and business world where the best leaders aren’t the loudest or most dominant — they’re the ones who make their people feel seen, safe, and supported.
Those leaders don’t just model sacrifice; they communicate it.
They tell their teams, “You come first. My job is to make sure you have what you need.”
They show it through their actions — but also remind people through their words.
That’s what separates a good example from a great leader.
🔁 The Shift
Leadership isn’t just showing the way — it’s lighting the way.
If you never speak, your teammates might admire your actions but misunderstand your purpose.
If you only speak, your words lose credibility.
True leaders connect the two: Show it. Say it. Repeat it.
🧭 The Takeaway
Leading by example is powerful — but it’s incomplete without communication.
A great leader models the behavior and gives it meaning.
They connect effort to purpose.
They use words to amplify the message their actions already started.
Don’t assume people “just know.”
Tell them why you do what you do, and invite them to join you.
🏅 The Locker Room
Mindset Move: Clarify the Example
Next time you find yourself frustrated that others don’t follow your lead:
Ask yourself — Have I told them why this matters?
After you show it, explain it once.
Encourage one teammate to carry it forward.
Leadership spreads when it’s modeled and multiplied.
❤️ The Parents’ Bleachers
Helping Your Child Grow as a Leader
When your athlete starts to take on leadership — maybe as a team captain or simply as someone who does things the right way — remind them that example is just one part of the job.
Encourage them to communicate what they see and feel.
They don’t have to be loud or bossy — but they should be clear.
Teach them to:
• Ask teammates questions (“What did you see there?”)
• Offer encouragement (“Let’s reset and go again.”)
• Share the why behind their actions (“I stay late because I want us sharper on defense.”)
When they combine action with purpose, their influence multiplies.
⚡ BE THE CATALYST
Leadership doesn’t have to be loud — but it can’t be silent.
Show it. Say it. Repeat it.