6. Available leaders understand their responsibility to their teammates.
Boston Bruins Gregory Campbell says, “If you’re not hurt that bad, you don’t want to be the guy laying on the ice. I’m not the most skilled guy. Playing in the playoffs is a privilege.”
7. Available leaders give their team a chance for long-term success.
Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau says, “We have 14 forwards and seven defensemen. That’s a luxury this time of year, but it won’t last through the playoffs. It never does.”
8. Available leaders are resilient.
Hollands concludes, “People talk about getting hot in the playoffs. Sometimes that just means staying healthy. Every round you lick your wounds, count who’s left, and it’s last team standing all over again.”
9. Available leaders often acieve ultimate success.
In Wayne Gretzky’s biography, he tells of entering the victorious New York Islanders locker room after losing in his first trip to the Stanley Cup finals, “Guys were limping around with black eyes and bloody mouths. It looked more like a morgue in there than a champion’s locker room. And here we were perfectly fine and healthy. That’s why they won and we lost. They took more punishment than we did. … They sacrificed everything they had. And that’s when (Edmonton teammate) Kevin (Lowe) said something I’ll never forget. He said, ‘That’s how you win championships.’” The Oilers won five of the next seven Stanley Cups.
Leaders must be available.
Available leaders show up consistently. They are reliable and can be counted on. Available leaders are present and in the moment. Available leaders are a constant presence and an ever-present picture of the desired destination at which others should wish to arrive.
Leaders, here is an important question for you to consider—Are you available?
