By Constantinos Massonos, Contributor
Leadership is a term associated with acts of bravery that lead to world-level changes, making it seem huge and out of reach. But leadership is part of human nature, evident in almost every aspect of life. Leaders are those we admire, follow, and respect. They influence and maximize the efforts of others toward achieving a common goal. In sports, athletes who may not top the statistics in points, goals, or assists but exhibit great leadership can lead their teams to titles and awards. These athletes are valued by fans for being the “heart” of their teams. Iconic athletes such as Michael Jordan in basketball, Derek Jeter in baseball, Tom Brady in football, and Paolo Maldini in soccer have exhibited incredible desire, determination, and a will to win. They inspire their teammates to follow and fight alongside them to achieve their goal. These rare leadership traits that athletes possess are not confined to the field of play. However, it can ripple beyond sports and influence everyday life.
Not every Athlete had any impacts beyond their sports
Many great players didn’t have any impact beyond their sport. Then there are athletes like baseball player Pete Frates, who, without a notable professional career, became a leading force for change. Frates graduated in 2007 from Boston College with a degree in Communication. He was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a disease with no treatment or cure, in 2012. In 2014, he did what great leaders do: communicate his inspiring vision to raise awareness for his disease by promoting the Ice Bucket Challenge on social media. His attempt went viral, leading to many mega-celebrities accepting the challenge. This raised over $220 million for the ALS Association, compared to $2.8 million raised the year before. Sadly, Frates passed away in 2019, but his legacy will inspire others for years to come.
Leadership brings glamour and fame. However, is often filled with doubt, struggle, and uncharted paths with unknown outcomes. A few years before the recent refusal of athletes to play games in protest, NFL player Colin Kaepernick risked his income, reputation, and career to protest against police brutality and social injustice by taking a knee during the American national anthem before an NFL game in 2016. His courageous action inspired a movement, and more athletes followed his example to protest in the same way. Life can place us all in a position of leadership, whether we like it or not. At home or at work, people might look up to us for guidance and advice.
Professional athletes with proven leadership skills, inside or outside the field, can inspire us to become better leaders. Thus, motivating us to follow their example.