What I learned about leadership as the honorary captain of the Mizzou football team

Coach your own team to big wins with these three leadership takeaways

Last month, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I got to serve as the honorary captain for the Mizzou Tigers football team as they took on Vanderbilt in an all-SEC battle.

Invited by head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, I jumped at the chance to see the culture he’s building and spend some time at my alma mater.

“Coach Drink” is also this week’s guest on my podcast. Make sure you’re subscribed to How Leaders Lead so you don’t miss it.

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As you know, I always have my “antenna up” for learning opportunities, and this one was a gold mine! 

Today, I’m sharing three leadership lessons I learned from my experience with “Coach Drink” and the Mizzou football team. 

Ready? Let’s kick things off! 

Takeaway #1: Energy is contagious

From the moment I walked into the locker room, the energy hit me. 

Coach Drink took me around and introduced me to his coaches and staff. And let me tell you, they were pumped up. Their excitement was palpable, and I instantly got even more energized myself.

This experience highlighted a key leadership truth: energy is contagious.

Coach Drinkwitz knows that energy is a part of any team’s competitive advantage. When they’re running on and off the field or doing drills, they dap each other up with a quick fist bump. It’s their way of supporting each other and passing that positive energy around. 

And he holds them to it. “There’s no energy vampires allowed,” he says. “[If] you’ve got bad energy, don’t come in here.” He knows that negative energy can spread just as easily as positive energy—and it can throw off an entire practice or game.

You set the tone as a leader. If your energy and enthusiasm are flagging, how can you expect anything different from your team? Set the example of positive energy, and intentionally recognize the people in your culture who are a source of it. 

Takeaway #2: Culture is the foundation of winning

No football program is going to succeed unless they have smart strategy and consistent execution on the field.

But there’s more to winning than that. In my visit, I clearly saw how the overall team environment plays a key role in how the players feel—and ultimately perform.

First of all, it was a fun environment. Every moment I spent was fun: the team dinner, the locker room antics, and even almost getting hit on the sidelines! 

Yes, the team was focused, but they were happy and loose, too.

And that joyful culture matters: the world of college football has gotten turned upside down in the last few years. The transfer portal and NIL deals mean that players have more options and flexibility to leave one school and find another one that works better for them.

Like any leader, Coach Drink has to work hard to keep his best talent.

The joyful culture is a part of how he does it. But he also knows that players need more than fun vibes.

They need to feel like they’re being developed, so he takes the time to understand their individual goals and aspirations. Then, he intentionally finds a way to tie those personal goals to the team’s needs.

That’s a powerful strategy any leader can use to both develop their people while also moving their organization forward. 

Luther Burden III is one of Mizzou’s standout players and a Heisman trophy candidate. And in our podcast episode that comes out on Thursday, you can hear the full story of how Coach Drink used this strategy with Luther to help him level up one key aspect of his game. I won’t spoil it here, but make sure you subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss it! 

Coach Drink is building a culture where his players and coaches can grow, feel appreciated, and have fun. And they’re winning. If you have that kind of job, why would you go anywhere else?

Takeaway #3: Balance vision with staying present

During my visit and in my conversation with Coach Drink, it was clear that he has a big vision for their program, to truly establish Mizzou as a perennial SEC powerhouse. I was blown away by their existing facilities and their plans to expand the stadium. 

It’s exciting stuff, and developing that big-picture vision is a key part of any leader’s job.

But you can’t get too far ahead of yourself! You have to balance those big-picture visions and goals with the day-to-day execution and quality. 

To help keep his players in the present, Coach Drink preaches what he calls a “1-0 Mentality.”

No matter what the circumstances are, they treat each game like they’re just trying to achieve a 1-0 that day. Past losses and victories don’t matter. Big stadium plans don’t matter. It’s all about delivering in that moment, on that day. 

Let me tell you, the game versus Vanderbilt was a nail-biter. Despite being heavy favorites, Vandy took the game to double overtime, and Mizzou walked away with a narrow 3-point win after Vanderbilt missed a crucial field goal.

But on the sidelines, the belief and focus never wavered. There wasn’t anybody on that team that thought they would lose. They knew they would find a way, and they did. That’s the power of the 1-0 mentality.

As a leader, you’ve got to embrace this balancing act. Dream big about the future, but stay present in the day-to-day execution you need to excel at in order to make those big dreams a reality.

I’m so grateful to Coach Drink and the whole team at Mizzou for welcoming me in as their honorary captain. It was an honor indeed, and I know we’re going to see more great things from that program, both on and off the field.

Business leaders can learn a lot from coaches. In fact, I often tell leaders to think less like a boss and more like a coach.

What’s the difference? Bosses tell people what they’re supposed to do. Coaches help them figure it out. Bosses supervise performance, but coaches analyze it and speak into it. 

When you make that shift, people see you’re rooting for them. They understand that you all win (or lose) as a team. 

That’s the kind of environment EVERY leader needs to strive for. And I hope these three takeaways help you bring more of that coaching mentality to the way you lead.

Now, I’d love to hear from you! How do you coach your team? Which of these takeaways stand out most to you, and why?

Drop me a note in the comments below. I can’t wait to get your feedback! 

Your Next Step

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Coach Drink’s episode drops this Thursday, October 3, so subscribe now and be one of the first to watch it when it airs.

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