Transferrable Leadership

transferrable leadership is a pay-it-forward system of creating more leaders, building relationships, and getting better results.

What is Transferrable Leadership?

In the simplest breakdown, Transferrable Leadership is a mindset and a practice. It is a set of lived principles—an undercurrent—to how everything is done in your coaching and in life. It is not an application of a set of distinct actions, but rather, it is a commitment of philosophical execution. It is the way that everything is approached, on and off the field.

Transferrable Leadership is an our opportunity, as leaders, to support and invite others on their own leadership journey. Taking what we have learned through our experience, through the relationships we have formed, and through our own journey of self-awareness, we can guide others to discover their own leadership. This is done at their pace, through their lens, allowing them to carve out their own experience based on where they are in that moment. Transferrable leadership is our ability to empower others and allow them to find their own pathway. We often expect someone to meet us where we are or have expectations from them that they should be able to do what we are asking. Transferrable Leadership is about meeting them where they are and supporting them through their growth using our experience and to be with them as we experience what they are experiencing, together. 

Who is Transferrable Leadership Relevant to?

Transferrable Leadership is relevant to anyone who works with other people. It is for individuals that wish to be the best version of themselves. It is for those of us that continue to challenge and evaluate and see what is—and what isn't—working. Transferrable Leadership is for those of us who can challenge ourselves to expand our perception of coaching so we can provide the best possible experience for those we are leading. This is for those coaches who see a bigger, brighter picture of the impact they want to have on players and the game and want to bring as many people as possible with them so they can create community and encourage collaboration in a spirit of working together. 

What difference does it make in coaching athletes?

The difference is understanding that we, as coaches, do not have to have all the answers at our fingertips 100% of the time. We, as coaches, have the opportunity to approach our leadership in a humble and intentional way. We do not need to make coaching about us; after all, the game is for the players. We show a vulnerability in how we approach what we do, and players, as a result, get to see someone committed to growth, trying new things, and taking on what they can do. It gives immediate buy-in for players and helps them shed the skin of “failure” and take on the challenge of growth through exploration. 

What is the more common type of leadership in soccer? How can you recognize it? What are its limitations?

The most common type of leadership in our game is positional leadership. This is the type of ‘leadership’ that is to “do what I say because I have the position/title of  coach.” You will recognize this as not inviting any player input, controlling players through the use of physical exercise/punishment, and joystick coaching from the sidelines. It’s a form of micro-management and is limited to only one person’s capability, experience, and creativity (very limited!). This type of leading has a very short shelf life and does not garner the respect of players, co-coaches, parents, or other stakeholders. As players’ experience grows, so does their desire to be challenged and to seek feedback on how they can improve. When we lead as a positional rather than a transformational position, we limit the amount of growth, collaboration, and input we provide players, and it does not allow for creative problem solving and individual empowerment.

Benefits (results/outcomes) of Transferrable Leadership?

The benefit is in the proverb of teaching someone how to fish. This illustrates how limiting it can be to not transfer leadership to others. When we embrace the concept of transferrable leadership, we not only empower others to go out and be the best version of themselves through exploration and growth: We also cast a much bigger net allowing for growth to be exponential: one leader becomes 2; 2 becomes 4; 4 becomes 8; and so on. We prioritize transferring skills, experience, and belief in each other to scale the benefit. This has a big reach and allows us to create newer, more exciting ways to problem solve and trust in the process. Most importantly, we learn to trust in each other.

Main pillars of Transferrable Leadership?

• Community based

• Growth induced

• Community (group) oriented

• Fearless conversation

• Fearless approach

• Knowledge is shared, attained and applied

• Relationship building

• Growth is sustained

• Mentees become mentors

• Life long learning

• Mistakes are embraced

Transferrable leadership is a practice, and it is currently atypical in sport. Many of our sport leaders hoard knowledge and treat it like the Cadburys Caramilk secret. Transferrable Leadership is meant to be grown and shared.