It’s easy to call someone a great leader when their team is winning. When the valleys come, which will happen for every leader in every sport, business, or organization, that is the true test of leadership. Who you are when the odds are stacked against you, and you feel like the walls are caving in.
Can your integrity remain intact?
Can you maintain the passion that made you successful?
Does it become about you over the team?
Will your team respect you regardless of results because they know what they signed up for win or lose?
Teams stick around when you are losing because they understand the long-term vision, trust the process and believe in the mission. None of those exist without great leadership that remains the constant and stays true to the course.