Leading By Being There
I teach all the time in my leadership development programs about how important presence and accessibility are for leaders. Last night I had the opportunity to attend the WBIT Quarterfinals Game in Madison, Wisconsin featuring Harvard vs. Wisconsin. Clearly with all my connections to Harvard University, I was going as a Harvard fan. But the trip got even more special when Harvard’s Assistant Coach Ali Sanders messaged me that she had a ticket right behind the bench for me. Priceless! I was going to be there and be present to support and root the team on. By the way: the seat was amazing. I got to sit next to and visit with parents of the team and meet Ali’s parents and family up from Illinois. Again, PRICELESS!
All of this really got to me to thinking about this whole presence thing and how important being there is. True presence is about availability and accessibility. It is about whether people feel they can reach you when it matters, and whether they believe you will respond with care and attention when they do. This was modeled very well from my vantage point as I watched the entire Harvard coaching staff.
As I watched Head Coach Carrie Moore interact with the team during the game I thought about what we all could take away from the continuous presence and coaching. Coach Moore was constantly communicating with team members. The question of how many miles of steps does a head coach get in on the sideline during a game?
From a basketball coach constantly moving along the sideline and engaging with their team, we can learn that presence is dynamic and active. The coach’s movement and interaction demonstrate attentiveness, adaptability, and responsiveness—all key components of being truly present. This active engagement fosters a sense of focus and connection, emphasizing that presence isn’t just about physical stillness but about being fully attentive and involved in the moment. Additionally, it highlights the importance of both verbal and non-verbal cues, timing, and situational awareness in effective communication—paralleling how presence influences relationships and leadership beyond words alone.
Leading By Availability
For an avid baseball fan, today marks the 25th anniversary of a true milestone in baseball’s most revered records. 25 years ago Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed Lou Gehrig’s record of playing in 2,130 straight games by playing in his 2,131st game. In fact, one of my most valued items in my den is my autographed picture of Cal from that 2,131st game (see featured picture on this post). It was on this day in 1995 in front of a home crowd at Camden Yards hosting the California Angels that he became baseball’s new Iron Man. I had the honor of seeing Cal Ripken Jr. play at Camden yards many times with students when I was an agriculture science teacher and FFA advisor because we always took in an Orioles game when either traveling to or home from the National FFA Organization’s Washington Leadership Conference. What a leadership role model my students and I were seeing in Cal Ripken Jr.
To read more of my blog posts featuring inspiration from Cal Ripken Jr. read Learn From The Day! and Luckiest Leaders On Earth!
“It’s widely believed that the most important ability is availability. Cal Ripken Jr. cornered the market on that skill.” ~ Chris Haft
Thus, the title of today’s post: Availability. The title and topic were inspired by a great piece by Chris Haft, MLB.com. He started his piece, Cal Ripken Jr.’s Top 10 Career Highlights, with the statement: “It’s widely believed that the most important ability is availability. Cal Ripken Jr. cornered the market on that skill.” How true! Being available is really the ultimate thing any leader can be. By always, literally, being available he was able to provide leadership for the Orioles, be a role model for the players in his team, be a mentor for the players on his team, and be a role model and inspiration to all his fans, young and old. What an example of work ethic.
Availability is crucial. It is important for people to know they have personal access to their leaders. Every game his teammates new he would be working right alongside them. We need to be the leader that builds relationships by being available. Thanks Cal for setting the example for us and the bar high.
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