Move The Puck

I’ve been a hockey mom for almost 30 years, and after watching my oldest son go from player to coach, I asked him a simple question: What has hockey taught you about leadership? He gave me five things, and friends, they are GOOD. A quiet team is a dead team. Hit enough. Move the puck. Talk to your team. Go to the net. Every single one applies far beyond the rink. Recognize your people. Do the hard things. Don’t hold up the team. Communicate clearly. And remember—results matter. One of my favorite reminders is this: leaders are liked until they have to do the hard things. Leadership isn’t about being comfortable. It’s about moving the puck, helping your team win, and being willing to go first.