“Leave no man behind” is a US Military phrase we civilians hear on TV shows and movies, but it’s more than a phrase – it’s a way of life.

Although athletic teams do not share the purpose of a military troop in operation, our teams can learn from the essential modus operandi that no one is to be left behind – each member is valued and crucial to the success of the group, and each is going to sacrifice their own needs for the greater good of the group and the mission.

Think about how you can apply this sense of selflessness to your team as a crucial element to the maintenance and lived commitment to “leave no man behind.”   Let’s look at a few simple examples of daily moments which can add up and either make or break a team, depending on their commitment to each other:

• When you see a teammate struggling with conquering a skill, do you let them struggle on their own or do you go over to help and spend extra time after practice?
• Do you celebrate your teammate’s successes?
• When a teammate who doesn’t look fully present or you know they are going through a difficult time with a life event, do you reach out to them and let them know they can lean on you?
• Do you challenge yourself and others, each day, no matter how many minutes you have played?
• When you see a teammate drop his/her head after a mistake, do you demean them, withhold comment, or do you encourage them to play on and get the next one.
• Do you walk away or sit and watch others clean up the team bench and bus or do you help with the adage of many hands make light work?
• When a teammate is injured and unable to participate in practice or games, do you walk by them without a word, or do you encourage and empower them to assist the team in new ways?

The commitment to be a unit is not easy, but when you tailor your thoughts and actions based on what is best for the team, chances are, you won’t ever leave anyone behind.

 

“I try to do the right thing at the right time.  They may just be little things, but usually they make the difference between winning and losing.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar