Beyond academia: Real-world leadership
Over the last few years, I’ve pursued various paths to grow as a leader. I’ve invested significant time in executive leadership training at Saïd Business School, Oxford, and recently completed my Doctorate of Business Administration. Both experiences profoundly shaped my views on management, leadership theory, and organizational dynamics. Yet, as valuable as these academic endeavors have been, none have taught me as much about genuine leadership, trust, and humility as coaching my female handball team has.
Today marked the last game of the season, a bittersweet moment for me as a coach. Reflecting on this journey, it’s evident how profoundly this experience has impacted my understanding of leadership and life itself.
Humility – a lesson in true leadership
Two years ago, I began coaching a group of enthusiastic young women, each unique in personality, ambitions, and skills. Initially, my focus was straightforward: improve their handball skills, instill teamwork, and guide them toward victories. However, as our journey unfolded, the lessons I gathered from these exceptional individuals far exceeded the confines of a sports hall.
One of the first lessons my team imparted to me was the authentic meaning of humility. In executive programs and business academia, humility often emerges as a trait associated with effective leadership, but its true depth became clearer through coaching. My team showed me that true humility isn’t merely acknowledging one’s limits or sharing credit. Rather, it’s found in how they supported each other through defeats, consistently recognizing each other’s strengths, and openly accepting feedback without ego or resistance.
These young women taught me that humility and vulnerability are powerful tools, not signs of weakness. They approached every challenge with courage, never shying away from failure or disappointment. Whether it was overcoming personal setbacks, injuries, or tough losses, their resilience and mutual support provided me with daily lessons on humility in leadership.
Building trust – the foundation of great teams
Trust was another cornerstone of my learning journey. While my studies delved into theories of trust-building and organizational cohesion, the practical experience on the handball court painted a far richer picture. Trust wasn’t something my team developed overnight; it required time, consistency, and authentic interaction. They taught me that trust emerges most robustly in environments where individuals feel genuinely seen and heard.
Over countless training sessions and matches, I witnessed firsthand how trust grows from shared experiences and collective goals. It was through mutual reliance during tense moments, whether in critical games or exhausting practices, that real trust solidified. The trust I saw develop among these players wasn’t simply about reliability—it was about believing deeply in each other’s intentions and having unwavering confidence in one another’s character.
What truly matters – life lessons beyond the court
Beyond humility and trust, coaching this team illuminated what genuinely matters in life. It’s easy to get caught up in professional accomplishments, academic accolades, and career milestones. Yet, through coaching, I realized the profound value of shaping lives and supporting growth on a personal level. This realization was especially poignant in today’s game, a moment when everything came full circle.
Standing at the sideline during the final whistle today, I experienced an overwhelming sense of pride—not pride rooted in victories or performance, but pride in witnessing the growth of each individual player. I saw how far they had come, how they had evolved into a team of strong, supportive women who could rely on one another in any situation. This sense of pride was deeply personal and far surpassed any accomplishment I’ve achieved professionally or academically.
Leadership as influence and connection
This team taught me that leadership is not about authority or hierarchy but about influence, authenticity, and emotional connection. Real leadership means supporting each individual in their personal and collective journey, acknowledging their growth, and empowering them to reach their full potential. Today, reflecting on this, I realized that my greatest achievement wasn’t something written on a certificate or diploma but was found in the lives I had the privilege of positively impacting.
Final reflections and gratitude
Looking back over these two years, I feel immense gratitude for having been part of this journey. Each practice session, each strategy meeting, each victory, and each loss taught me more about myself, leadership, and life than I ever anticipated. Coaching this team reminded me daily of the importance of empathy, patience, and genuine care—qualities that often fade in corporate environments but are the essence of true leadership.
In closing, while my academic and professional journeys have undoubtedly been rewarding, coaching has offered me the richest insights into leadership. Today, at the end of this season, I celebrate not just the skills my players developed or the games they won, but the incredible individuals they’ve become. It fills me with profound joy and satisfaction to know that perhaps, in some small way, I’ve contributed positively to their lives.
To my team—thank you. Thank you for teaching me the most valuable leadership lessons of my life. I am endlessly proud of each of you and look forward to seeing the remarkable journeys you all continue to undertake.
No Comments