Losing coaches have shed tears over the years about not having any leaders on the court, field or in the locker room. Consider for a moment, that a lot of the shortage is due to the fact that there is a model that the so-called œnatural-born leader fits that eliminates most of the population.

Having the model also limits the possibility of leaders being trained. Do we have an environment that encourages leadership? Are we making it okay to be a œleader-in-training? Leadership can be learned. It can be learned only if it is acceptable to fail. Is it okay to take a risk?

If someone crashes and burns is the coach there to pick them up, dust them off and continue the game? The key element is risk. Taking on what you dont know how to do. Learning from the failure and, most importantly, applying what you learned.

The model for leadership is a myth and it has looked something like this: (remember the myth unexamined has power in peoples automatic responses to the leader):

CHARISMA     TALL    MALE    WHITE    RICH    INTELLIGENT    EDUCATED

INSPIRING    HANDSOME    DISCIPLINED    DISTINGUISHED    CRAFTY

Before you attack, I know there are leaders who dont necessarily have this package. What I am asking you to do is consider that our automatic reaction to who is and isnt a leader is influenced by this model (e.g. No woman president, yet).

There will be œthe naturals. (e.g. Ronald Regans presentation on television fit the model very well and we know the result. His election had nothing to do with his political savvy.)

There just arent enough of them. Coaches are designated leaders with an opportunity to train new leaders. You must have an environment where it is safe to make mistakes. If not, who would want the job.

Be clear that everyone needs leadership skills even if it is being a leader in their own life. We would be well ahead of the game if just that much happened. Being consistent in doing what we know, regardless of the circumstances, is a high form of leadership.

American business suffers from the fact that there are too many people sitting around waiting for someone to tell them what to do. Many times it isnt that they dont know what to do, but that they are unwilling to take the responsibility to act.

It has been written, and I agree, that the most essential element in being an effective leader is pursuit. œPursuit of what?, you might be thinking. Pursuit of your vision. Pursuit of that which provides leverage in fulfilling your commitments. Pursuit of knowledge; not to store it for future reference but to put into action. Then what is left is to continue to practice. Maybe the chief pursuit is to have the life you really want, not the one you settled for.

Get on line at lulu.com or vervante.com to get your copy of The Art of Losing, Coach Todds latest book or one of his other books that will support you in your pursuits.