#74 Built on Culture: What My First Two Years with West Point Volleyball Taught Me About Teamwork, Respect, and Leadership.

Let us know what you are think about this episode here. 💬 Text here. This episode of the Teach Me to Fish podcast features Matthew Leclair in conversation with members of the West Point Volleyball team. The discussion centers on the parallels between building culture in collegiate sports and leading teams within the U.S. Army.### Key Themes and Insights:•Transitioning to Leadership: The cadets discuss the evolution from being a plebe (freshman), who is mostly responsible for themselves, to assuming leadership roles as they advance (7:40 - 8:14). They emphasize that even at the squad level, having purpose and accountability for others is a crucial developmental step.•Teamwork and Culture: The players describe the importance of being "all in" for the team, balancing the serious nature of military training with the fun of competitive sports (0:05 - 0:45). They highlight the value of mutual respect, honesty, and accountability (0:31 - 0:45).•Mentorship and Role Models: The guests identify mentors like Colonel Schnack and former teammates like Mac Lynch as instrumental in their growth (2:28 - 3:00, 35:00 - 36:00). These figures serve as examples of how to be steady, grounding leaders who can solve problems effectively without being overly negative.•Operational Mentality: The team discusses the adjustment to high-intensity training schedules, noting that the ability to be "ready to go" at a moment's notice—regardless of fatigue—is a trait that bridges the gap between the volleyball court and the battlefield (31:53 - 33:28).### Advice for Future Cadets:•Embrace the Learning Curve: The cadets advise incoming students not to be stressed about not knowing everything when they arrive at Beast (basic training). They suggest viewing it as a fresh start where everyone is learning new things together (2:03 - 2:28).•Take it One Step at a Time: A recurring theme throughout the conversation is the importance of focus. Whether in the army or in sports, they recommend focusing on the immediate goal—one meal, one day, or one practice at a time—to manage long-term stress (3:02 - 3:09, 110:52 - 111:28).The episode concludes with a reflection on the power of stacking positive habits and small victories to build a foundation for long-term success, both as individuals and as leaders (112:43 - 113:01).Why Teach Me to Fish? Catch someone a fish, feed them for a day. Teach them to fish, feed their family for life. Our purpose is to help Leaders better understand what drives People to serve. In any organization, the core of recruiting and retaining talent revolves around leadership. And not just average leadership, but motivated, values-based, inspirational leadership.   Our Pursuit here is to get a little bit better every day. Progress = Small Victories and stacking habits.Habits like Getting up early, working your butt off, learning something new, Being positive and Surrounding yourself with phenomenal People.   Thanks for investing some time for yourself and thinking about the kind of People and experiences in your life that inspire you to be the best version of yourself. I hope these conversations spark some ideas on what you can do to inspire People too.Instagram Link - https://www.instagram.com/p/C0ALde1yH5v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Facebook Link - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553842772462