How do you hold your teammates ACCOUNTABLE?

October 22, 2022

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ONE THOUGHT...

Holding Teammates ACCOUNTABLE is HARD for team leaders. It is the most challenging part of being a leader. The very best leaders in ALL sports are confident enough to take this step of leadership for their team.

These leaders know that defining the STANDARD and then making sure everyone is adhering to the STANDARD is what will make or break their team and their season.

After all, Player Led Teams Win.

Consider some of the "greatest leaders" in the history of Sport. Based on “The Captain Class” by Sam Walker, some of these include:

  • Tim Duncan

  • Tom Brady

  • Bill Russell

  • Kobe Bryant

  • Yogi Berra

  • Carla Overbeck

Sam Walker discovered that most of these elite team leaders had similar personalities. They were quieter, unassuming, team-first players with an intense focus. They were also incredible competitors who hated to lose. They lead by example, played with a chip on their shoulder, and held their teams to an incredibly high standard. They led their team from the rear - they were true servant leaders. However, they also refused to let their teammates slide below this standard. More than anything, when the team needed it, they HELD THEIR TEAMMATES ACCOUNTABLE. Because of this, they WON.

So how do athletes hold their teammates accountable?

What can you say? How do you say it?

Here is a simple two-step process for athletes to follow to begin the process of holding their teammates accountable.

Two Steps to Accountability:

  • STEP 1: Use the Accountability Test with yourself. If you Cause it, Contribute to it, or Condone it, then you are accountable and responsible for it. Before you hold others accountable, you must first hold yourself accountable.

  • STEP 2: If your teammates are not keeping up with the standard needed for your team and culture, then Team Leaders MUST Confront or Challenge their Teammates.

So how can team leaders confront or challenge their teammates? What can be said?

Here is a starting point.

Below are 9 statements team leaders can use to confront, challenge, and hold their teammates ACCOUNTABLE.

1: “That is not the way we do things here.”

This is a simple culture statement. It lets your teammate know that this is not allowed on this team or in this program. Not much more has to be said. This may be the most important statement on this list.

2: "We are better than that."

This is a statement that you can use to raise the standard. When you say, “we are better than that,” you are stating that what is currently occurring it’s not who we are on this team. It is a good way to raise the bar for your teammates.

3: "We need more from you."

This is a great statement to confront a teammate. It is not always easy to confront a teammate. This is a simple statement that is effective and challenges your teammate to give more to the team.

4: “We need you to step up.”

This is a way that you can challenge your teammates. You are letting your teammate know that the team needs them to give more than what they are currently giving the team.

5: “That is not our standard.”

The statement can be used to define the standards of your culture. A simple statement. It is clear and precise. It makes it known to your teammate what the standard is.

6: “You are hurting our team.”

This is a statement to confront your teammate. It is a statement to remind him or her that nobody is too big for the team. A reminder that the TEAM comes first.

7: "We don't do that in our program."

This is another standard-setting statement. It lets your teammate know that this is not how we do things in our program.

8: "This can't happen."

A simple statement that is used to help set and define the standard.

9: “Next Play.”

A statement that can help a player move on and not dwell on a past mistake or past success.

Accountability is not easy but is critical in Championship Caliber Teams. As coaches, it is critical that we build our team leaders from within. Part of that process is to discuss teaching your leaders to hold their teammates accountable.

Why? Because Player Led Teams WIN!

Use these statements with your team leaders to begin the process of teaching these critical accountability skills!

Good Luck!

TWO QUOTES...

“When your teammate looks you in the eye and holds you accountable, that’s the greatest kind of leadership there is.” - Doug Collins

“The most valuable player is the one who makes the most players valuable” - Peyton Manning

THREE TWEETS FROM OTHERS...

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