Leading by example is one of the many intangibles great athletes bring to their teams. Some of the best leaders in sports rely on their actions to speak for themselves as opposed to relying on their words. Leading by example is often talked about, but rarely executed effectively. This article will talk about four easy ways to show leadership through actions and being a good example for your teammates.

Do the Little Tasks

There is no such thing as too small of a task when you are on a team. Whether your role is being the superstar or being on the bench, every player should excel in doing the little things to help the team win. Tasks as simple as setting up the field or court before practice or tracking stats and patterns during the game all play a role in a team's success. A way to show leadership is to not put these tasks beneath you and to make sure you set the example of doing whatever it takes to set the team up for success.

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Constantly Work on Your Craft

A strong work ethic and constant devotion to your game is a great way to show leadership by example. Let your work and practice speak for themselves and show that work yields results. You can show a strong work ethic by always being the first one in and the last one out during practice and even working extra during your free time. The time, reps, and practice you put in can set a standard for the rest of the team and bring out the best in them, which leads to collective success.

Stay Composed

It is so easy to get caught up in the heat and emotions of the game, but leading by example requires composure and patience even in the most competitive circumstances. Some of the best leaders in sports are the ones that let their actions speak for themselves and keep the smack talk to a minimum. Composure is a hard skill to practice, but the biggest thing to keep in mind is that actions speak louder than words, so it's in your best interest to put all your focus on your performance as opposed to the smack talk.

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Show Support to Your Teammates

Team chemistry is key to success and a way to lead by example is to show support towards your teammates. No matter what role you're in, it is important to constantly uplift your team when they are down and hype them up when they are having success. Acts of support can range from simply high fiving a teammate to having a team talk after a loss. A key recipe for team success is everyone having each other's back and showing support through the ups and downs of the season. 

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* Originally published on October 7, 2022, by Cole Wimmer