The Way #21 | A RUDIS Wrestling Podcast: Leaders Eat Last: Protection From Above

Protection From AboveCary Kolat and Matt Dernlan introduce a new book they will be discussing, Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t by Simon Sinek. In this episode, they discuss Ch. 1 “Protection from Above”. Throughout the chapter, Sinek utilizes examples from military combat to teach in clear terms of life and death but shows that the same principles can be put to use in all of life, especially in leading a team. Kolat and Dernlan reflect on the idea that the best teams come about as leaders build respectful relationships with those under them and put the welfare of their athletes above their own in order to build trust. They also discuss the importance of relying on their senior athletes to act as the “managers” of the team in order to help lead their younger teammates on a smaller level. Kolat finishes by emphasizing the importance of empathy in leadership. He relies on more experienced seniors to lead and push the younger athletes but stresses the importance of not forgetting where they started and to help the next athletes in line to maintain a cohesive, united team.