Leadership Lessons From The Field With Marc Albertson

In a recent episode of The Profitability Podcast, host Joey Albertson welcomed a special guest - her husband Marc Albertson, head football coach at Jordan High School in Utah. With nearly a decade of coaching experience and entering his second season as head coach, Marc brings a unique perspective on leadership that extends far beyond the football field. As both an educator teaching Spanish, PE, and weights, and a mentor to young athletes, Marc has developed leadership programs that transform teenage players into well-rounded individuals with skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

The parallels between coaching a sports team and running a business are striking, and this episode shows how leadership principles from the gridiron can transform business teams. Despite working in completely different fields, Joey and Marc have discovered significant overlap in their leadership challenges and solutions. Marc's approach to building culture and developing young leaders offers valuable insights for business owners and team leaders. This blog post explores the key leadership lessons from the episode, showing how a football coach's playbook can help any organization develop stronger teams, find purpose in their work, and cultivate leadership at all levels.

Building Leaders at Every Level  

One of Marc's most impactful initiatives at Jordan High School is his leadership development program for the football team. Rather than simply appointing captains based on seniority or athletic talent, Marc implemented a thoughtful system that develops leadership abilities throughout the team. At the end of the previous football season, graduating seniors voted on off-season captains who would set the tone and expectations for the team during the vital development months.

This initial group formed the core of a Leadership Council that has since expanded to include eleven students spanning from incoming sophomores to seniors. The council reads leadership books together, discussing examples of great leadership and exploring how they can apply these lessons to their team. This approach creates multiple layers of leadership rather than relying solely on a few designated captains, spreading responsibility and accountability throughout the team structure.

The program acknowledges that leadership isn't a natural talent for everyone but a skill that can be developed with the right guidance and opportunities. By creating tiered leadership positions and giving younger players roles of responsibility, Marc helps students develop confidence and practical leadership experience. This approach mirrors successful business structures where leadership isn't confined to executive titles but cultivated at every level of the organization, creating a pipeline of future leaders who understand the organization's culture and values.

The Allegory of the Geese

Perhaps the most memorable leadership lesson from the episode was Marc's "allegory of the geese" - an effective metaphor for team dynamics and collaboration. Marc explained that geese flying in their distinctive V-formation can travel 75% further than when flying alone. This example shows how proper team alignment and mutual support dramatically increase what a group can accomplish together compared to individual efforts.

The allegory extends beyond mere efficiency. Marc pointed out that when a goose becomes injured or tired, two other geese fall back to stay with it until it can rejoin the formation. This aspect of the metaphor highlights the importance of supporting team members who are struggling, whether with professional challenges or personal difficulties. In both sports and business, this means creating systems where team members can step in to help colleagues who need additional support, ensuring no one gets left behind.

Another fascinating aspect of the goose formation is the misconception about communication. Many assume the lead goose directs the flock, but Marc revealed it's actually the geese in the back who communicate most, as they can see the entire formation. This parallels effective organizational leadership where frontline employees often have the most accurate view of operations and customer needs. Smart leaders listen to team members at all levels, recognizing that valuable insights can come from anywhere in the organization, not just from those with leadership titles.

Finding Your Natural Style  

A recurring theme throughout the podcast was the importance of authenticity in leadership. Marc referenced a quote from Britain Covey (a professional football player and University of Utah graduate) that "authenticity leads to consistency, and consistency is better than being loved." This powerful insight suggests that trying to fit into predetermined leadership stereotypes often backfires, while being true to your natural leadership style creates the consistency that teams crave.

The conversation highlighted how different leadership styles can be equally effective. Some leaders are naturally vocal and inspirational, while others lead through consistent actions and example. Marc works to develop both types of leadership in his players, recognizing that the most effective teams have a blend of different leadership styles that complement each other. Similarly, business leaders don't need to conform to stereotypical leadership molds but should instead leverage their authentic strengths.

For Joey and her business partners, this approach has translated into recognizing their complementary strengths and leveraging them for the benefit of their company. Just as Marc identifies and develops different types of leaders on his football team, the podcast team has found success by allowing each member to lead in their areas of strength rather than forcing everyone into the same leadership model. When leaders step into roles that align with their natural abilities and personality, the entire organization benefits from more authentic and effective leadership.

The Harriet Tubman Example  

One of the most inspiring segments of the podcast focused on what we can learn from historical figures like Harriet Tubman, who emerged as an extraordinary leader despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As Marc pointed out, Tubman was a five-foot-two formerly enslaved woman - someone who society at that time would never have considered leadership material. Yet she became the conductor of the Underground Railroad, leading countless people to freedom through sheer determination and moral conviction.

Tubman's example reminds us that leadership isn't about fitting a particular physical mold, having an impressive title, or conforming to society's expectations. It's about having the courage to take action when others won't and the commitment to a purpose greater than oneself. Her story challenges modern leaders to look beyond stereotypical leadership traits and recognize potential in unexpected places - both in others and in themselves.

What made Tubman's leadership so remarkable was that her greatest joy came from freeing others, not from personal recognition or reward. This selfless motivation connects to Marc's question for his coaching staff and players: "What is your greatest joy?" In both sports and business, leaders who find joy in team achievements and the growth of those they lead tend to create more positive and successful environments than those motivated primarily by personal accolades or financial rewards.

Building Your Leadership Legacy  

As we've seen from Marc's approach to coaching and leadership development, building effective teams isn't about quick fixes or management gimmicks - it's about consistent investment in people and culture. For leaders of sports teams, businesses, and all organizations, the principles remain the same: authentic leadership, collaborative support systems, and developing leaders at all levels create environments where everyone can thrive.

Your leadership journey begins with self-awareness. Like Marc's football players learning to recognize their leadership strengths, take time to reflect on your natural leadership style. Are you more of a vocal leader who inspires through words, or an action leader who sets the example through consistent behavior? Neither is inherently better - effective teams need both kinds of leadership. The key is to leverage your authentic strengths rather than trying to force yourself into a leadership mold that doesn't fit.

Now is the time to implement your own version of a Leadership Council within your organization. Identify potential leaders at all levels, not just those with obvious talent or seniority. Create opportunities for them to develop their skills through increased responsibility, mentorship, and collaborative learning. Remember the allegory of the geese - your team will go 75% further when everyone is aligned and supporting each other. By investing in leadership development today, you're building a legacy that will continue to impact your organization long after you've moved on to new challenges.

Key Takeaways for Implementing Leadership Lessons:  

1. Create leadership development opportunities at multiple levels of your organization, not just for those already in management positions.

2. Recognize different types of leaders - both vocal leaders who inspire through communication and action leaders who set the example through consistent behavior.

3. Use the "allegory of the geese" to remind team members how working in formation helps everyone go further.

4. Listen to feedback from all levels of your organization, especially from those on the front lines, who often have the clearest view of operational realities.

5. Help team members find their "greatest joy" in work that connects to their values and gives them purpose beyond a paycheck.

6. Look for leadership potential in unexpected places, remembering that great leaders often emerge from unlikely backgrounds.

7. Value authenticity over conformity in leadership styles, recognizing that consistency matters more than fitting a predetermined leadership mold.