The Power of Intentional Leadership: Lessons From My Swimming Coach

I’ve loved swimming for as long as I can remember. My passion started in the summer league, continued year-round, and eventually led me to swim at a Division I level in college. The photo above captures a special moment with Coach Ward, my club swimming coach during my junior and senior years of high school. I visited him last week, 25 years after my senior year, because my oldest child is now a swimmer and shares my love for the sport.

Why revisit Coach Ward? Because his impact was profound. As leaders, it’s essential to recognize that we are stewards of our positions. Titles and roles may change, but our influence endures. We must be purposeful in our leadership, caring for our people - our human capital - beyond their professional contributions. They are souls deserving of our best efforts.

Coach Ward was not passive. He did not coddle. He was strong, intentional, and thoughtful. He developed swimmers to reach the Olympic level. Remarkably, 90% of his swimmers who graduate as seniors through his program go on to swim all four years of college, and 60% of those swimmers become team captains.

My recent reunion with Coach Ward led me to reflect on what made him great, and how we as leaders can apply his methods to developing talent in our own fields.  

🌟 Key Lessons from Coach Ward:

• Intentionality: Tailor practices/meetings to individual needs while fostering team spirit.

• Kindness: Lead with empathy and understanding.

• Excellence: Model self-control and dedication.

• Humility: Lead by example, not by edict.

• Generosity: Invest time and effort into each athlete/employee’s growth.

I don’t recall every practice or meet, but I remember Coach Ward’s intentionality, kindness, excellence, humility, and generosity. His approach left a lasting impact on me.

Our goal as leaders is not to be punching at the wind, but to be thoughtful, engaging, and deliberate. When we give our best in a deliberate and wise manner, we’ll get the best out of our people, making future generations all the better for it.

I hope my story inspires you to lead with the same care and intentionality. Remember, we’re dealing with souls, not ‘resources,’ and our actions matter. Let’s be the change we want to see.

🚀 Godspeed.