WOD #175 "Leadership"

As many of you probably have, I've pondered the question of "What makes a great leader?" many times in my life. Are you completely out of luck if you aren't a natural born leader, or can desire to be a leader outweigh God given ability? And furthermore, what are the traits, values, or daily habits that separate leaders from the rest?

I've been talking quite a bit the book Extreme Ownership, written by U.S. Navy SEALs Jocko Willink & Leif Babin, lately. Either in my post "Lean into Ownership" or to my athletes, friends, and family, ownership has been a focal point of conversation and my thoughts lately. It is just too powerful of a value for us all to not be working towards improving. 

For example, taking ownership eliminates:

• Blame
• Complaining
• Negative comments and thoughts
• Victim mentality
• Plateauing

Think about it, "I am responsible" followed by whatever is happening to you relinquishes any control outside of yourself, even to things you feel are NOT your fault in any way, shape, or form. 

In athletics, the most successful athletes I've seen and worked with take ownership in their development - their process. They ask questions like:

• What can I do to get better?
• I keep having this problem, what would you recommend to fix it?
• How can I transform my weaknesses into strengths?

There is always a certain amount of self-reflection and self-awareness that the greatest athletes have. They don't have to be begged to work hard or be a good teammate, they intrinsically want to do these things because they know it makes them a more elite athlete and overall better person. And the greatest of them all take others with them.

These are our leaders. These are the people who inspire, change lives, and set the world on fire. These are the people we want to follow. 

Obviously, it's not just athletes or Navy SEALs who can be great leaders. It's you and I, too. It's every single one of us. We all have the power within us to impact others on a meaningful level. 

Take advantages of where your opportunity for daily leadership, even if that just starts with yourself. I challenge you to take yourself, and potentially someone else, with you to the gym this weekend and complete today's workout. 

Warm Up

Simple Core Series

• 10 Hollow Rocks
• 20 Baby Cobras
• 20 Deadbugs

  
Knee Stability Series

• 10 each way, Band Walks
• 10 forwards/backwards, Band Zig Zags
• 20 Band Jacks

Dynamic Stretches

• Inch Worm
• Traveling Quad Stretch
• Knee Hug to Traction Lunge
• Figure Fours
• Frankensteins
• Cross-Over Frankensteins
• Folds to Frogs

Workout

5 Sets Total of:

Partner 1
1:30 Run
0:30 Push Ups

Partner 2
1:00 Wall Sit
​0:30 Air Squats
0:30 Toe Taps

One set is complete when each person does the run/push ups and wall sit/air squats.

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Related Posts
Lean into ownership
Be a Lighthouse: Lessons on Leadership
Make Yourself an Athlete
The Mindset of Greatness

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