Leadership Lessons Learned From Skeet

Leadership Lessons Learned From Skeet

One of the great things sports can teach is leadership. Even if we are not actually on the field, we can see which players have great leadership ability and which do not. I am sure we all have names that readily come to mind, both from our own playing days and from observing professional sports.

I started shooting skeet in January 2019 when I registered for the Red Nose Open at the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club (FRGC). I will never forget driving there and mistakenly taking a snowy, slippery, narrow, and winding backroad that left me white knuckled. I don’t recall my score that day but I do recall meeting Jeff Bond, a club member who ran the registered shoots at the time. I also remember having a desire to figure out how to become a member of a team in the club’s Doerflein Skeet League.

Through Jeff, I got in contact with the league director, Bob Myers, to express my interest. When there were no spots open, I was placed on the substitute shooter list. However, soon thereafter, Bob told me there were several others looking for a team and offered to help me fill it if I would be the captain. I was nervous about doing so as I had never shot in a skeet league, was brand new to the sport and club, and have a demanding schedule. However, I fortunately realized how difficult it is to find a spot on a team and that this was likely a now or never opportunity.

I took the plunge and looking back more than four years later, below are some of the lessons I have learned:

Don’t let self-doubt rob you. When the opportunity to lead presents, you often will not feel ready. The opportunity may be in a different field in which you have little technical background. You may not be better than the rest of the team. You may not have any experience leading. You may not know the team or be new to the company. While all of these are challenges, they are not insurmountable if you are intentional, humble, and willing to work hard to learn quickly.

Be willing to learn from others. Early on in my experience as a team captain, Bob Myers, who is legendary in skeet circles and was on my Sunday team, told me that I needed to develop a referee schedule in the beginning of the season and share it with the team. It seems obvious but it had not occurred to me. I quickly developed one and continue to use referee schedules to this day. In fact, I have modified and improved it so that I now create and use referee and sub schedules so that we capture all of the known absences at the beginning of the season and then can find substitutes as appropriate.

Organization impresses. The FRGC is comprised of many accomplished individuals, including military and civilian leaders. In other words, they are not easily impressed, and they expect organization. I have found that being organized helps to build credibility with your team and that for me at least, credibility builds confidence.

Change is inevitable. At this point, no one from my original team remains. Medical challenges and changed work circumstances were the drivers of this change. While not all change is good, I learned a lot from navigating changes in team membership. I also learned the value of conducting succession planning so to speak by finding individuals who were interested in being regular substitutes. They became familiar with the team, and it has been very easy to bring them in as team members when openings arise.

Team culture is critical. When you lead, you will create a culture. The question is whether you will intentionally create a culture or allow one to grow. If you garden, you know it is very important to prune your plants, so they grow in the manner and shape you desire. You also know that when you do not prune, your plants will continue to grow but will not necessarily grow in a desirable shape and may in fact become unmanageable. I have chosen to create a team culture which prioritizes safety, fun, and creating opportunities for younger or new shooters. We deliberately seek out substitutes rather than use bank scores even though we know this can cost us points and places in the standings.

You must have a vision. If you want to have a successful team, you must have a vision and it must be apparent. Our team’s vision is centered on safety, inclusivity, and fun and providing opportunity for younger or new individuals. My team members know, and most importantly, agree with that vision.

Take care of your team. As a leader, you can choose to rely upon authority. Generally, that is a very poor approach and choice. I have found it is much better to know and understand your team and clearly communicate with them. It is also important to occasionally have special team functions like grilling and traditions like some team apparel and an annual useful Christmas present.

Network with your peers. It is important to know and build relationships with other leaders in your field or company. I have learned a good deal from other captains and having relationships has helped me to secure new team members and to help individuals looking for a team find one.

I hope you have enjoyed the leadership lessons I have shared from my experience with skeet. You can learn leadership lessons from many different places and people. To do so, it is important to be intentional. In other words, “Make it matter.”