Last week, fall camp started for the Ohio State Buckeyes football program.
I was born in Ohio. Your Ohio birth certificate lists your length, weight, parent’s names, and a field stating that you will be a lifelong Buckeye fan. 🙂
And yes, Buckeye fans can be pretty annoying. I try not to be one of those fans.
Today, we are starting a new blog series on Leadership Styles.
This triggered me to think about the last few Ohio State head football coaches in my lifetime: Earl Bruce, John Cooper, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer and Ryan Day.
Each one had a phenomenal winning percentage, and each led differently.
For example, Jim Tressel wore a sweater vest and was nicknamed The Senator for his buttoned-up, stoic approach. (Based on how our Senators currently act, I’m not sure that nickname would work in 2024, but I digress.) Urban Meyer was super-intense and known for turning everything into a competition.
I mention this because most of us have a stereotype of what a leader looks like.
I stereotype a leader as gregarious, boisterous, and with a ‘take charge of every room’ personality.
That stereotype had me convinced for decades that I wasn’t a leader, and it held me back for years.
Throughout this series, we will explore various leadership styles.
The exciting news is that exceptional leaders come in all different styles and can be successful. Acknowledging this truth is where our journey begins.
Instead of writing more, I invite you to grab a sheet of paper and finish two exercises.
First of all, finish this sentence. “In my head, my stereotype of a leader is . . .”
Secondly, list all the leaders you have had—parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, Pastors, Rabbis, bosses, supervisors, and Committee Chairpersons—and write down some of their core characteristics as leaders. Notice that they were not all the same style or stereotype.
Realizing that leadership is in all different personalities is quite freeing and hopeful.
And one more thing, Go Bucks!
