Developing Your Sports Industry Leadership Skills

Leadership skills manifest in different ways in all forms of organizations. In sports, some lead by example while exuding confidence, like hockey legend Mark Messier when he scored three goals in a game he guaranteed the New York Rangers would win en route to a Stanley Cup. For others, like Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu, it’s about the quiet consistency of showing up for your teammates as he continued attending optional offseason practices to mentor young players.Leaders aren’t always team captains or rank atop an organizational chart, but building leadership skills is essential to giving your career upside in the sports industry. Today’s guest on the WorkInSports Podcast is Casey Katofsky, co-owner of three minor league teams (Northern Colorado Owlz, Northern Colorado Hailstorm, and the Grand Junction Jackalopes).Katofsky is also the Executive Director of Operations for the newly opened Future Legends Sports Complex, a 118-acre sports complex with a professional stadium, multiple baseball diamonds, multi-purpose fields, an indoor bubble sports arena, lodging, and retail in Windsor, Colorado, that is set to become a mecca for sports tournaments (and the commerce that follows it). He talks with VP of Content and Engaged Learning Brian Clapp about:How to become a leader regardless of your role in an organizationHow he built his leadership skillsThe role of influential MLB players such as Ryan Spilborghs, Torii Hunter, and Carlos Gonzalez in making the Future Legends Sports Complex a realityWhat traits he looks for when deciding whom to hire on his staff