"If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome." - Michael Jordan

Kirby Smart said, “You have to buy into what the program believes. Nobody takes anybody for granted. Complacency versus consistency.” Georgia football emphasizes culture, discipline, identity, and toughness every day. These are words, but what gives them meaning are the leadership strategies behind them. The ability to create and set a standard of excellence. Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs have won back-to-back CFP Championships by doing that. How did he create the Georgia Bulldogs into the best team in College Football? The 4 Key Leadership Skills that Kirby Smart Uses: 1. Build Relationships "You have to love your players to get the most out of them." Kirby spends time with his players and knows that it starts with communication and connection. Listen to some of the pregame conversations that he has with players or even his own son and you realize that he cares and connects. You have to build relationships with your players, coaches, and team. It creates a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration. 2. Accountability "You're either coaching it or allowing it to happen." His philosophy is that accountability is essential to achieving success on. You set a standard and enforce the standard. It means team accountability for all: • Clear expectations • Owning mistakes • Giving feedback 3. Preparation "Championships are won Monday through Friday, not on Saturdays." He emphasizes the patience and preparation that it takes. It takes patience to have discipline. It takes attention to detail, careful planning, and mental preparation. Your preparation builds your confidence. You need to be prepared mentally and physically for what can happen in the game. 4. Resilience "Toughness is when you're tired and you don't feel like doing it, but you do it anyway." He emphasizes the power of physical and mental toughness. The toughest teams endure and win. Listen to any of his pregame or post-game speeches and he emphasizes the will to compete and the Georgia standard. Challenges and failures are inevitable. It is important to be resilient because true success comes from continuing to work in the face of adversity. Summary The Georgia standard comes down to reflecting these leadership principles everyday. • Setting a standard • Holding people to that standard • Bringing a tough mindset • Caring for the people around you Leadership skills relevant to any team. “If we truly want to be honest and upfront about leadership, you can’t ignore the cost of leadership. Great leaders are willing to accept those costs.” - Kirby Smart - - - Follow @coachajkings for more content like this!