Developing Leaders

quote:

Originally posted by PlayWithEffort:

What do you do if your team lacks a vocal leader in the clubhouse?

First, I'd ask myself, do I create and enforce the kind of team chemistry that's conducive to the emergence of a vocal leader?

If the chemistry is there, but a vocal leader doesn't emerge, then you live with it.

IMO, baseball is (potentially) so humbling-and "staying within yourself" is so clearly important-- that vocal leaders are less likely to emerge than they are in other sports.

It takes a special breed to be a vocal team leader in this game.

Leadership cannot be just one person whether it's vocal or not vocal. I agree with freddy in that do you promote an atmosphere to allow it to happen. Second you have to define / understand what you want from your leaders. It's one thing to say "We need leadership" versus "We need our leaders to do ......" This could vary from one program to the next. Third once you know what you want out of leaders let them know what leaders will be doing.

Best way to develop leaders takes time because you establish a system where you're consistent in everything. Same practice set up (obviously do different drills) to create a routine. Same rules year in and year out. Stuff that the players can be introduced to as Freshman so that way by the time they are Seniors they can take over and help the younger guys learn the ways of the team.

You have the same philosophy / system then when a freshman is struggling to remember what's next in practice a senior / junior can pull him aside without being told to do so and explain what's next. You can take an older guy and have him talk with a younger guy who doesn't think hustling is very important. If you can develop this type of leadership you can have a buffer to handle problems before a coach has to drop the hammer.

Being consistent doesn't mean never change because if you are consistent then it will actually help your player adjust to change. You come up with a new way of doing something or want to do something else than previously your guys will pick up on it quickly.