Make Leadership The New Cool

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Make Leadership The New Cool
Is leadership cool?

We absolutely believe so!

Many times leadership isn’t viewed as cool, but when we stop and reflect on the best athletes and coaches in the world, the vast majority of them exhibit tremendous leadership ability.

It’s time we address the coolness of leadership with today’s youth. As leaders, it is our duty to train the next generation of leaders. We must help them see the big picture and understand the small acts of leadership are cool, because they make the leader!

When “coolness” takes over a locker room or program things begin to deteriorate quickly. Performance begins to decline and inevitably as a result success takes a hit as well. Our friends at PGC Basketball have a saying we believe in, “Don’t be too cool or too shy.” As coaches we must encourage our athletes to come out of their shells and take action.

More so than many things, “coolness” is contagious among youth. At Lead ‘Em Up we believe that which gets praised gets repeated. Kids naturally do more of the things which bring them recognition, good or bad. As coaches we should make it a habit to praise the small acts of leadership we see. When we celebrate these acts, we make them cool!

Transforming a culture into one fulll of leaders is no easy fix. It takes intenional work. We can’t wish for it to happen. We can’t hope the next group of seniors are good leaders. As with fundamental skills, we either coach it or allow bad habits to rule. Leadership and character are the same. We must intentionally teach leadership and character, or we are choosing to have a bad culture.

So…how do we make leadership cool? We believe in starting with these four steps.

First, develop a consistent approach. This is why we recommend using our drills and exercises on a weekly basis. Consistency helps us fight against complancency and coolness.

Secondly, remove the bad apples. This is difficult, but necessary. Having bad apples will bring the ship down. When players or coaches refuse to jump on board and be a part of the vision for our culture, we have to let them go.

Thirdly, praise vulnerability. Being vulnerable is most definitely not seen as cool, especially for middle and high school athletes. Make it a priority to praise any athlete who demonstrates vulnerability to their peers.

Lastly, praise the “non-cool” acts. Start by encouraging athletes to pick up trash, clean the locker room, serve the community, support teammates, showing up early, stay late, and ask questions. When we witness athletes doing these things we must celebrate them in front of the team.

It’s part of our vision and mission to “Make Leadership The New Cool”!

Will you join us?

 

Have fun and #LeadEmUp

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2025 Green 13 Recipients

2025 Green 13 Recipients

The Green 13 Award celebrates student-athletes who lead with heart, uplift others, and consistently live out what it means to be a great leader.

Podcasts

Real Leadership Talk for Today’s Athletes

The Green Room Ep. 4: Unleashing The Secret to Leadership – Why It Starts with Being Leadable

Watch the full video here: leademup.com/greenroom

What if the key to unlocking leadership potential in your team isn’t just about developing others, but about being the kind of person who is a joy to lead? In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked truth: leadership flows best through people who are enjoyable to lead. You’ll learn the four traits of these individuals and how cultivating them can create a culture where leadership multiplies.

We’ll also explore a simple yet powerful question: Where are you today? Challenging, easy, or enjoyable to lead? Your answer could change everything about how you lead, and how others rise around you

Real Leadership Talk for Today’s Athletes

Green Room Ep. 3: Know Me to Lead Me – The Power of Connection on Championship Teams

Watch the full video here: leademup.com/greenroom

You can’t challenge someone to be great if you haven’t earned their trust. In this episode, we unpack one of the most overlooked truths in sports leadership: before you can lead me, you need to know me.

Championship teams aren’t just talented, they’re connected. They build relationships deep enough to allow for honest feedback, accountability, and real growth. So why do most teams skip straight to “calling each other out” without laying the foundation? In this episode, we will explore the truth that you can’t challenge someone to be their best until you’ve earned their trust, and that trust only comes through genuine connection. This episode breaks down why peer leadership often fails in sports teams and how coaches and players can build the kind of culture where teammates lead each other effectively.

Download the Green Room Player Reflection Template, a simple PDF that coaches can use to have their players reflect on the episode. It’s perfect for sparking discussion and capturing key takeaways.

Download here: https://leademup.com/the-green-room-player-reflection-worksheet/

Get Part 1 Free

Get access to part 1 of the Green Team Framework FREE!