The Leadership Lessons Hiding at the Pool

Most leadership lessons don’t arrive in a textbook. They show up in everyday moments often when you’re least expecting them. For me this summer, they arrived poolside.

Like many parents, I’ve spent years cheering my kids on from the stands. I’ve paced the bleachers during close races, shouted encouragement during long distance swims, and celebrated personal bests with the same pride I bring to professional wins. But recently, I decided to take a different role. Instead of just being a spectator, I stepped onto the deck.

I signed up for my son’s swim team’s volunteer program and began working on my coaching and judging certifications. Stroke and Turn Judge. Announcer. And, in a twist I didn’t see coming, surprise participant in the annual Parents vs. Coaches vs. Kids relay race.

I hadn’t trained for that race. To be honest, I hadn’t been in a competitive lane in decades. But there I was, standing behind the block, goggles on, listening for the starter’s whistle. I dove in, swam my leg, and came out of the pool with lungs burning but heart full. I survived. More importantly, I learned.

Growth Comes From New Roles

It’s one thing to cheer from the sidelines. It’s another to stand on the deck with a clipboard, a whistle, or a microphone. Suddenly you see the sport differently. You notice the fine details of technique. You hear the nerves in a kid’s voice before a race. You feel the energy ripple through the team when someone shaves a second off their time.

The same is true in leadership. It’s easy to watch performance from the stands through reports, dashboards, and KPIs. But the perspective changes when you walk the property, sit with a site team during a tough resident interaction, or shadow a maintenance tech on a busy Monday. You gain insight you’d never get from spreadsheets alone.

That humility of learning something new whether it’s the exact rule for a butterfly turn or the nuance of a property’s renewal pattern keeps you sharp. It reminds you that expertise is never final. There’s always another layer of detail waiting for you if you’re willing to step closer.

Teaching Reinforces What Matters

The second lesson surprised me. Volunteering wasn’t just about helping the team it was about reinforcing what matters most.

When you’re standing as a Stroke and Turn Judge, you’re not there to punish mistakes. You’re there to uphold fairness. You’re there to remind kids and parents that rules exist to keep the competition meaningful. Every DQ slip I filled out was less about the violation itself and more about reinforcing a principle: consistency matters.

In leadership, teaching works the same way. Every time I coach a regional manager on balancing compliance with operations, or mentor a new property manager stepping into a difficult assignment, I’m not just passing along technical know how. I’m reinforcing the values that sustain the organization: accountability, clarity, and respect.

We forget that teaching isn’t only for classrooms. Every correction, every bit of feedback, every shared story becomes part of how we reinforce culture. It’s why leaders can’t delegate teaching away. You can hire trainers and consultants, but when a leader takes the time to explain, coach, or model behavior, the message lands differently.

Involvement Builds Community

The third lesson is the one that will stay with me the longest. By showing up, by putting on the volunteer badge and doing the unglamorous work, I became part of a community in a whole new way.

There’s a difference between being a parent in the stands and being an announcer on the mic. Suddenly, you’re part of the rhythm of the meet. You see the kids’ faces light up when you say their names. You feel the collective energy of families pulling in the same direction. You realize that community isn’t built by proximity it’s built by involvement.

The same holds true in multifamily operations. A property isn’t a community just because residents live side by side. It becomes one when staff engage beyond transactions. When maintenance follows up after a repair to make sure it was done right. When managers remember residents’ names and stories. When leaders take time to be present, not just to approve budgets.

I’ve seen properties where staff work hard but remain disconnected, and the community never quite gels. And I’ve seen properties where leaders foster real involvement where staff, residents, and vendors all feel like stakeholders. Those communities thrive. Retention climbs. Resident satisfaction grows. And yes, financial performance follows.

The Formula: Learn, Contribute, Grow

Stepping into volunteer roles this season has reminded me of a formula that holds true in any arena: learn, contribute, grow.

Learn something new, even if it humbles you. Contribute in ways that reinforce the values that matter most. Grow by becoming part of a community rather than a bystander.

For leaders, it’s tempting to think growth only comes from conferences, certifications, or reading the latest book on strategy. Those things matter. But some of the most valuable growth comes from the everyday moments where you put yourself in the arena whether that’s coaching your child’s swim team, volunteering at a community event, or walking the property with the people who hold the keys to its success.

The lessons aren’t always comfortable. Sometimes they leave you gasping for air, like I was at the end of that relay. But they’re real. And they stay with you longer than any slide deck or seminar ever could.

Closing Reflection

To all the parents, coaches, and volunteers who step forward you’re not just building swimmers. You’re building character, confidence, and connection. The same is true for leaders in multifamily operations. You’re not just managing units. You’re shaping cultures, sustaining communities, and developing people.

That’s worth more than any medal, any KPI, or any line on a résumé.

The stands are comfortable, but the lessons are on the deck. Step down, get involved, and watch how it transforms not only the people around you but you as a leader.