There are many different kinds of leaders on the field and court. There’s the verbal encourager, the lead-by-action inspirer, the quiet workhorse, the intelligent caretaker… Yet, most of these leaders share some similar qualities. Below are five of the most noteworthy leadership traits that are seen in some of the best leaders:

Committed and passionate

Passion drives our efforts and our focus. We tend to fight hard for what we love because we hope something great will come from it. Whether it be extra time on the field or spending time making oneself and one’s teammates better, a great leader is one who puts in a noticeable amount of effort.

Confident in themselves and others

Confidence stems from overcoming the various mental and physical obstacles in daily life. It’s winning as many of the ‘little battles’ as one can. It is a result of individual responses to an environment. Say you missed that last shot – now, how do you speak to yourself after the fact? Are you criticizing yourself over and over again, or are you focusing on the next play? Confidence building is a cycle that never ends. At times, confidence will spike to new heights, and other times, it might feel like nothing is going your way. The good thing is, we are all human and this is just part of our growth process! Once a stable level of confidence is acquired from within, we can inject confidence into others. A teammate is struggling on the field – how can you build them back up and lend a helping hand?

Communicative with purpose

Talking to assist or to educate shows maturity and intelligence. For example directing players on the soccer field using verbal cues, like “force the opponent to the left,” is an example of communicating with purpose. The leader is asking their fellow teammates to follow an instruction to help the team win back the ball and ultimately score a goal. This kind of communication with purpose can occur off of the field or court as well. Great leaders can solve conflicts by honing in on words and nonverbal body language of their peers; they are aware of what is going on in their surrounding environment.

Selfless team player

A selfish attitude might be beneficial for some short-term accomplishments, but it is not necessarily a great long-term solution in a team setting. A standout leader has the ability to make themselves and their teammates a priority without having to choose one or the other. Leaders delegate their time to understanding teammates and knowing how their peers function as players and as people; this can be extremely beneficial for creating a cohesive and positive team atmosphere. All players want to feel appreciated, valued, and recognized. Even in an individual sport, athletes can still act unselfishly by always showing good sportsmanship.

Accountable for actions

Owning up to mistakes and faults is incredibly important. Leaders who understand that they will not always be right can earn a great deal of respect from their teammates and peers. Witnessing a leader acknowledging their faults makes everyone around the leader feel more ‘human.’ It can be challenging to listen to someone who claims they never make a mistake! Mistakes remind us that we are always growing and evolving, and they can help us to step outside of the box to look for new solutions. An accountable leader is a respectable one.

Whether you are a captain of a Division I athletics program or a high school freshman wanting to learn more about leadership development, incorporating these five traits into everyday life will be beneficial for anyone who hopes to become a better leader. The key is to never stop learning, growing, and developing as a player and as a person.

If you identify some of these traits in yourself, how can you then put them into action? How will you choose to lead?

Kim Slade

Is a DI student-athlete graduate from Northeastern University. She is currently: a club soccer and private school soccer coach, a Masters in Sports Leadership student at Northeastern, and a Mpowher Athlete mentor. Kim substitute teaches, and trains at a Crossfit gym, and uses her free time to see friends and family. She has always been passionate about working with others; as a captain for her collegiate, club, and high school soccer teams, she feels it is part of her natural ability to lead. Kim’s favorite part of her job is that she is always growing and learning from the people she works with. Fun fact? Kim ran the 2018 Boston Marathon for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and raised over $10,000 for cancer research with the help of her family and colleagues!