Leadership Needs Reps

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Leadership Needs Reps

Are we born strong?

Are we born with the ability to lift a ton of weight or run great distances?

Of course not. 

The best athletes in the world have to consistently workout, practice, and get their reps. Why should leadership be any different?

Too often we hear leaders are born; not made. People tend to hear it so often they begin to think it’s true. When this happens coaches tend to accept “the hand they’ve been dealt” and not intentionally teach leadership skills to their athletes.

Sure, some people are born more inclined to lead, but we believe ALL are capable of leading. They just need reps. Leadership is a skill and like any skill it needs reps!

At Lead ‘Em Up we believe in and focus on developing a “Leadership Mindset.” This mindset requires one to focus on personal growth, accountability, and taking on different roles. It also asks the individual to focus on growth as a player, person, and on those around them. This is not something athletes are born with, but with practice and repetition they pick it up and develop into the leaders needed to win.

Leadership skills need to be taught, instilled, and reinforced. If not, teams and their success are left to chance.

Take the case of Payton Dill. Payton was chosen as captain of her basketball team for her senior year. Quite the accomplishment for someone who hadn’t played basketball until her freshmen year of high school.

Payton was a shy, quiet, and reserved player who lacked self-confidence. During her sophomore through senior seasons Payton’s team went through Lead ‘Em Up training. Payton not only developed as a player, but as the leader her teammates needed. Payton and her teammates posted back to back winning seasons while capturing tournament titles along the way.

Payton’s leadership skills learned through sport and Lead ‘Em Up also transferred into the classroom and real world work internships. She’s living proof leadership is a skill which can be taught and learned.

We’re all a work in progress. However, there’s no progress without the work.

Let us do the work for you. Together we can transform your culture and create leaders who will leave a legacy within your program.

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!