Lead by Example

If I had to make a list of my favorite leaders, few would rank higher than former Tennessee Lady Vol basketball coach, Pat Summitt. I won’t even attempt to sum up her career by rattling off impressive statistics, even though she is unmatched by any coach in the men or women’s game.

Last week Summit received the Arthur Ashe ESPY for courage in the face of her fight with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. The battle has recently forced her to step down as the UT coach after 38 years at the helm.

1,098 wins (the most by any coach, man or woman), 16 conference championships, and 8 national championships will leave a void in Vol nation, to say the least. But those are not my favorite Pat Summitt numbers.

Consider this . . . Over the past 38 years every young woman who has laced up her sneakers and played for Pat has gone on to graduate from college. Summitt clearly understood her job was to develop STUDENT-athletes.

And how about . . . Seventy-four of the girls who played for Pat went on to become coaches themselves. Can you say leadership pipeline?

When handed the award, Summitt made a statement that gave those watching a glimpse into her greatness. She said, “I always have tried to lead by example. If I’m not leading by example I’m not doing the right thing, and I always want to be doing the right thing.”

As you lead this week, “lead by example and do the right thing.” Doing so will help your team stay on target with the mission and it might just cause someone to follow in your footsteps.

i2i,

Randy

 

Who is one of your favorite leaders and why?

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