LEADERSHIP

There was a great quote a couple days ago in a NY Times article about New Jersey Nets young point guard Devin Harris. In the article, New Jersey Nets head coach Lawrence Frank discusses the reasons why it is difficult for some players to take on a leadership role within the team. The following quote was taken from the article.

“Being a leader is very, very hard for this reason: you have to be the same guy virtually every single day,” Nets Coach Lawrence Frank said. “When things are not going well for the team, when things aren’t going well for you, when there’s a heap of criticism upon you. So leading is tough. It’s hard, but he’s up for the challenge."

While coaches are accountable for most of the leadership responsibilities, successful teams have to have a player step into a leadership role within the team as well. Leaders need to have the ability to motivate the people/players they are leading. This can be done openly with good communication skills or through leading by example. When your leader or leaders are your hardest workers there is a better chance that others will follow. Regardless of the circumstances, leaders always have to remain poised and positive.