Characteristics of a good leader
There are many characteristics that define a good leader, but perhaps the most important is the passion and support they convey to their teams in order to achieve objectives and deliver results. For a good leader, it is important to be able to handle situations of frustration and stress. To do this, they work on effective two-way communication, promote continuous feedback and work closely with their teams.
In my experience in sport and analysing the current situation, I believe that we still have a long way to go. We need leaders who empathise with their teams and manage people from a more human perspective, without creating distinctions between them. It is important to be clear in your messages, transparent with information and to connect with everyone in the team.
When you are a team leader, you have to understand that all your professionals are important and that no one deserves to be excluded from the objectives. If something is not working, you have to talk to identify where the problem lies and work on the situation so that everything works, turning the group into a real team.
People in general need to feel important, which is why the leader is a key player in any sports team. When a mistake is made or expected results are not achieved, you must always recognise that person’s effort and commitment. Victories and defeats are important for the growth of all professionals, and the experience gained in these processes is an added value.
Team frustration
When we analyse people’s behaviour, we come to the conclusion that the vast majority of coaches or leaders only accept victories and very few accept defeats as a learning experience for their teams. In schools, federations and sports centres, victory is almost always the goal, generating a great deal of frustration among children and adults alike. The lack of recognition generates strong negative feelings, which ultimately leads many athletes to give up sport due to demotivation.
Many parents reproach their children for not trying hard enough in sport, demanding that they give 100%, because they think it is super easy to go out and conquer the world. Another example is when we hear sports fans complain that players don’t have the right attitude on the field, or when we hear a manager in a company say that you’re not performing well because they think you haven’t given 100% at work, when in reality they’ve only relied on their favourite employees to get the job done.
It’s very easy to find fault, but do we stop to analyse what is happening to prevent that athlete, that child or that professional from performing at 100%? That is the great job of a leader: to be close to the team and empathise with the situations around them, because support is necessary for the process of trust, learning and growth.
My personal experience
After 10 years as part of the Telefónica Women’s Football Team and having the wonderful pleasure of being the captain of this great team of professionals, I am clear about my goal and that of all the other players. The feeling of being a TEAM always prevails, with the following characteristics:
- Building a team together where there are no levels and everyone feels important.
- There are no barriers to joining this team; we just need players who want to have fun with us.
- Enjoying the passion for this sport
- Every match is a wonderful experience and we celebrate victories and defeats.
- All players contribute value.
- Unity, connection and motivation are our main objectives.
- Empathising with our teammates. There are games where we are more inspired and others where we are not, but we always support each other.
- Communication is important and essential for everything to work.
- Our goals are shared, not individual.
When I look back on my career, I realise that being a leader is a privilege that very few people have, and one that should be valued above all else. Being in a position where you have direct access to everyone around you is an added bonus, with two-way learning that gives you the opportunity to empathise and build a team with incredible people.
When I started out in football, I was lucky to have leaders who inspired me to be better and to improve every day. They were a source of inspiration because they brought out the best in each of us. Taking to the pitch meant enjoying our passion for football, regardless of the result. After every match, we would go out and celebrate and enjoy every moment. Motivation generates enthusiasm, desire and passion for what you do, as well as promoting growth in your daily life.
But I also had the bad experience of coaches with zero leadership skills. They created rivalry between the players and there was no unity among us. They generated envy, a lot of competitiveness and negative feelings in the dressing room and on the pitch. When we went out to play, there was no camaraderie, the word ‘team’ did not exist, the players were very individualistic, supported by the ego of the coach himself, who only sought the growth of a few people. And when it came to a more difficult match, only his favourite players played, the others had no opportunity to show their game. In this situation, many stopped playing and were constantly missing training due to a lack of motivation.
To conclude, I believe that leaders play a very important role in all organisations, whether sporting, business, cultural, etc. They must be able to convey their passion for what they do to their teams, giving everyone opportunities and excluding no one. They must know how to communicate effectively and be completely accessible and transparent, so that their teams feel calm and motivated in their day-to-day work. It’s not enough to say ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’ or ‘how are you’; it’s important to build a path together, where being a leader means inspiring everyone and strengthening the connection to achieve common goals.
