Being chosen to be a leader was an amazing and life-changing opportunity. Especially because it was for an activity that I was so passionate about. Yes, it was much more different than I anticipated it to be, and a lot more challenging. What I have learned throughout that season has not only helped my guard succeed, but it has helped me build the confidence that I needed.
1. Patience is key.
For those who don't know, color guard is a sport of elegance, grace and precision. It takes ages to master and perfect your techniques, and you never truly stop learning. Color guard also requires you to be a fast visual learner, which is why many freshmen struggle for most of their first season. Sometimes, there are fast learners, but most of the time they are slow for obvious reasons. Most normal people don't casually just pick up a flag and start spinning like a pro.
As a leader, I had extremely high expectations for my guard to be close to perfect. I would often get frustrated due to some slow learners, because that would hold the rest of the guard back from learning more parts of the show, but I soon realized that everyone learns at their own pace and the best thing to do is show them patience. Getting angry won't make anything better, and it certainly won't help your members learn faster. If anything, it will only cause tension and self-doubt. Sometimes people just need a little extra practice.
Working individually with slower learning members was my favorite way to help them get back on track. Not only did that method work like a charm every time, but I got to bond personally with them so we could learn more about each other! They didn't feel like a number for once, which brings me to my next point.
2. Get to know your team!
This is VITAL. You're going to be spending the next few months with this group, you're all going to be around each other for hours a day, almost everyday. Bonding activities are an awesome way to get to know the beautiful performers that you'll be working with. As a leader, I believe it is your duty is not only to lead your team to success, but to be there for your team. This means getting to know each other's likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, fears, etc. so you can lend a helping hand to each other in times of struggle. Your team needs someone to go to for guidance. You need to be that example.
3. It's okay to goof off sometimes.
Endless band rehearsals, guard sectionals, football games and competitions are stressful enough. Now add school, home-life and a job onto it. You can end up feeling drained. As a captain, it's important to let your team know that you understand that they're tired and stressed, and as a human being you can relate to them. Let them know you aren't some super human that can juggle the whole world all at once. In moderation, it's okay to have some goof off time, whether that may be telling some jokes, turning on some music and dancing around or just sitting in a circle talking. Everyone needs a break once in a while, and that's okay!
4. Know that you're all going to become annoyed by each other at some point.
Like I said in the last point, you and your team are going to be around each other most of the time. You will get annoyed at each other and probably want to punch each other in the face sometimes. This is normal considering how often you all will be together. Sometimes you may need to be prepared for instances like someone starting an argument, or developing a bad attitude. Just like siblings, you all will bicker, even though you love each other. What matters is how you recover from it. Remember, a guard's relationship with one another shows in a performance on the field/floor.
5. It's okay to discipline your guard.
There will be some days where the goofing off might go out of hand, someone shows up late to practice without an excus or someone doesn't want to do what they are told. When you're a fun-loving captain, it can be hard to put your foot down. As hard as this is, you can't let these things slide. Too much goofing off, showing up late and disrespecting your leaders are unacceptable and need to be punished.
In a guard, what one person does affects the group as a whole. You guys have a show to do. If these things go without consequences, it can end in other members developing bad habits. Punishments like laps, burpees and push ups really suck before or after a long and strenuous rehearsal, but it will prevent these mishaps from happening again. Knowing when to discipline is okay.
6. Your team will pick up on your behaviors.
Often times, the leader of the group tends to be one of the oldest members. This means that a large part of the guard may be younger, which means they are more impressionable. Everything you do from the words you speak, how you treat others, how you perform and how you handle situations will be closely monitored by these young students.
Young minds are like a sponge and absorb behaviors and actions very easily. If you sit out too often during practices, they will think that's okay. If you complain a lot, they will too. If you cuss like a sailor, (like I used to) chances are they will pick that up too. A captain has to be a prime example of what a marching band/color guard member should be. Mind your words and actions to young ones who look up to you.
7. You'll go home crying sometimes.
Some days you will feel like the worst captain in the world, and that there is too much pressure on you. Color guard captains are often underrated and overlooked, and when we do get attention, it's when the guard looks bad. Whether it may be from your band director, instructor, or other band members. Some days you'll feel like you've lost control of it all, and will begin to question why you were chosen to be a leader in the first place. Just remember, you were put in charge for a reason. Your band director/instructor picked you because you have potential to be an amazing leader. Sometimes all you need is a good cry, and that's okay. But the next day you have to put on your big girl pants and face your problems without fear because that's what a true leader does.
8. Have no regrets.
I went through many highs and lows while being in a leadership position, but I wouldn't change that. Being a leader is about personal growth and learning to better yourself. To do that, you must make mistakes and you must learn from them. No one can ever be perfect, but you can always be better than what you were yesterday.
For our future leaders, being in charge isn't as glorious as it is hyped up to be. Being an example for a group of people who look up to you is extremely difficult, but it is an extremely fulfilling experience to know that you have positively impacted the people around you. Don't be afraid to go for that leader's position!
