🏆 Captains or Leaders?

Do you have captains or leaders? There is a big difference.

Author

Greg Berge
October 31, 2024

Happy Halloween 🎃! A warm welcome to the 112 new subscribers who joined 13,400+ others this week.

Here's what's coming:

  • Captains or Leaders? 🏆

  • John Wooden on Success 🥇

  • Great “X” insight from Sahil Bloom🆇

  • Read Time ~ 4 minutes.

But first…

HOW DO YOU DEVELOP YOUR LEADERS?

Before we dive in, version 2.0 of the Team Leader OS is being released this Sunday, November 3rd! You get lifetime access when you buy, so you get it today and get ALL of the updates!

To celebrate, I am offering a 🚨 Limited Time 25% off Sale of the Team Leader OS. Get it ALL for only $96.75. 

Build the Leaders Your Team Needs to WIN.

💭ONE THOUGHT
Captains or Leaders?

Do you have captains on your team, or do you have leaders?

There is a big difference.

As a coach, selecting team captains can be dangerous.

Why?

All too often, the term “Captain” turns into a title or position when it should be a choice, a mindset, and a responsibility.

The term “Captain” can become an entitlement that actually does more harm than good to a team.

Have you noticed who is often most worried about a player being a captain?

All too often, it is the parent. And if this is the case, I would strongly discourage you from even naming a captain.

This is why I work on developing leaders more than I ever define captains. That is why I have created the Team Leader OS and am now releasing version 2.0.

You see, many times, your captains are not your best leaders.

  • This is why defining leadership is so important.

  • This is why teaching leadership is so important.

  • This is why having a systemic way to develop your leaders is so important.

One of the best short videos I have seen discussing leadership comes from legendary soccer coach Jose Mourinho.

It is so good that one of my 20 Bonus Leadership Lessons in the Team Leader OS is centered on it. You can now download this lesson and two others for free:

In this video, he is being interviewed, and he is discussing the difference between a captain and a leader.

He tells the story of a game he was coaching where the team played a very poor first half.

He was “fuming,” he said.

Before he could enter the locker room, one of his players, Jorge Costa, stopped him and asked if he could have 2 minutes with the team.

He went into the locker room, closed the door, and did what good leaders do.

When he emerged from the locker room, he told Jose Mourinho, “Coach Us!”

As Jose Mourinho said, “he did in the dressing room everything I would have done.”

“When you have these leaders, you become more of a coach. You focus more on the coaching side of things.”

Leaders do the dirty work.

They step up and hold their teammates accountable. They allow coaches to coach. They set the standard for the team.

Here are three key differences between captains and leaders:

  1. Role vs. Influence:

    • Captain: A captain is a designated role, usually selected by coaches or teammates. They have specific responsibilities and are recognized as the formal representatives of the team.

    • Leader: Leadership is broader than a title; leaders influence others regardless of their position. Leaders can emerge in any situation, inspiring teammates and setting standards through their actions.

  2. Responsibilities vs. Impact:

    • Captain: Captains often have responsibilities like communicating with referees, organizing team events, or leading warm-ups. Their tasks can be structured around team needs and logistics.

    • Leader: Leaders focus on impact. They bring motivation, accountability, and encouragement to the team, often shaping culture, morale, and focus in less formal ways.

  3. Assigned vs. Earned Respect:

    • Captain: A captain’s respect often comes initially from the authority of the position. It’s important for captains to prove they deserve this respect through consistent effort and integrity.

    • Leader: Leaders earn respect through their character and contributions, regardless of title. They gain influence by setting an example, showing commitment, and supporting their teammates consistently.

Both roles are essential to team success, but while all captains are expected to lead, not all leaders need to be captains.

Who are your leaders?

Watch the Jose Mourinho interview here. It is worth the watch!

P.S. How do you develop your team leaders? The Team Leader OS will give you all you ever need. For a limited time, you can get the Team Leader OS at 25% off. Even better, you get Lifetime Access, meaning you will get the 2.0 version released on November 3rd!

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📜 TWO QUOTES

"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."

John Wooden

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

Gail Devers

𝐗 THREE POSTS FROM OTHERS

🔗 LINKS OF THE WEEK

🎥 Video: Ted Lasso on Respect

🎙️ Podcast: Coach Collins and I discuss Leadership Planning in this Basketball Leadership Podcast episode.

📚 BOOKS, COURSES, BUNDLES, & FREE RESOURCES

Bundles:

Courses, Curriculum, and More:

Books:

Find all FREE books and resources at gberge.gumroad.com.

👀 OTHER WAYS I CAN HELP

  1. Are you interested in Sponsoring an Issue? Reply to this email or click here: Sponsor Great Team Better Leaders.

  2. Are you seeking a Culture or Leadership workshop for your team or school? Contact Greg for more information.

Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]

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