Book of the Week: "The Hard Hat" by Jon Gordon

I picked up the book "The Had Hat" because of the tagline on the top - "21 ways to be a great teammate." Note that it doesn't say be a "good" teammate, it says be a "GREAT" teammate.

The book is centered around former Cornell men's lacrosse player George Boiardi, who was the heart and soul of the Big Red during his time in Ithaca before he passed away after being struck in the chest by a lacrosse ball. George was not the best player on the team nor was he the captain, but he was regarded as the leader.

The thing I liked most is it confirmed something I've believed for years and have told student-athletes at the time: you don't need a title to be a leader. You don't need to be named the captain to lead the team. Everybody is a leader in some capacity and at some point during the grind of the season. As a society, we are constantly urged to keep climbing up the corporate latter, that's how you become successful and grow a following. Seeing the term "Vice President of Operations" or "Director of ________" on the resume is the best, but it's just a title. You may make more money and get the corner office with a couch, but it doesn't mean you're a leader.

Whenever discussing this topic, I like to go back and reference the third and final movie from the "Mighty Ducks" trilogy. Charlie quit the team because the new coach took away his captain's "C," which after telling the Ducks' mentor Hanz, Hanz tells Charlie to grow up and it's just a letter. It doesn't take away what's under the "C."

It's the same with everything else in the world, you don't need to be the person in authority to be a leader. All you have to do is look out for the person to left of you and the person to the right of you.

Also, remember if you want to be a leader: "well done is better than well said."