TCU Holds Leadership Retreat
9/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | General
FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU student-athlete development held its second annual TCU Athletics Leadership Retreat Aug. 26-27.
In a partnership with the LT Leadership Academy, 34 TCU student-athletes selected by their coaches from 15 different sports took part in the two-day event, run by Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development Jessica Hazard and Assistant Director of Student Development Services Tyler Fisher.
"The goal of the retreat was use the TCU mission and athletics department values as a foundation to address issues facing our team leaders," said Hazard. "This base creates team cultures built from the university, athletics department and the individual team mission and values. Being a leader is never about one person, it is about accountability and getting the team to the desired outcome by learning how to always live your values and to help your teammates to do the same."
With the challenges facing student-athletes, being a captain or leader on the team adds additional stress. The leadership retreat provides skills to assist student-athletes in addressing difficult situations occurring throughout the season. The retreat utilizes TCU's mission, "to educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community," as well as TCU athletics' core values of "Excellence, Integrity, Loyalty, Accountability, Respect and Passion." The student-athletes then use the mission and values to learn how to respond to issues, putting their team and their teammates' well-being first creating a positive culture of winning.
"Learning how to be an effective leader and improving your team, not just on the track, will help not just here, but in the future," Brittney Trought of women's track and field.
The group participated in several team-building exercises and took advice over breakfast from former TCU student-athletes Camille Barton, Terri Janak and Horatio Porter, all who have enjoyed successful careers away from athletics. They shared how their experience as a student-athlete has transferred into the workplace and made them successful in their fields.
"This weekend has taught me the in-depth impact of leadership and the skills necessary to implement culture and make those around you follow with the attitude to become better. `To whom much is given, much is expected.'" said baseball's Michael Landestoy.
