When I was first asked to participate in the NCAA's Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males, I immediately questioned how it could help me and what could I contribute to the program. After all, I had been in leadership positions before: quarterback in high school and college, captain of sports teams, stockbroker, and general manager of a AAA baseball team, to name a few. I felt like I already was a good leader.

But my participation in the Leadership Institute gave me a better understanding of what leadership really is. I have redefined what leadership means to me, and I have developed a better understanding of what it takes to be a productive and supportive leader.

Being a good leader is more than just directing the actions of others. Effective leadership requires the ability to work well with others, the ability to demonstrate compassion and a desire to unite others to achieve a common goal. Leaders are individuals to whom others look for guidance, often without the leader's knowledge. Effective, compassionate leaders do not always have to speak; their actions speak louder than their words. Leadership does not always involve workers or subordinates. Leading oneself is a challenge we face daily.

While the Leadership Institute was not a history class, we often talked about the struggles of African-Americans and other ethnic minorities. The struggles were not only from the athletics perspective, but also from a typical societal prospective. An effective leader must examine the path he has traveled before he can chart his course for the future.

Some say that leadership is a way of life. Before my participation in the Leadership Institute, I would have questioned that statement. I now see the truth behind those words. During each morning session we recited the quote, "My words are like the stars that never change....they can be relied upon with as much certainty as the return of the sun or the seasons." And in the evenings we would conclude the session with another quote, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Those two quotes describe the foundation of all effective leaders, for they actually define the leader's character.

Leadership skills are a by-product of a strong character. A weakness of character will undermine all attempts at leadership. Leadership doesn't build character: it reveals it. As a leader you must stand strong in your beliefs and views. If the words of the leader cannot be trusted, then he or she has no credibility.

In the Institute sessions, we examined several pertinent areas of athletics administration where leadership plays a key role to the success of both the individual and the institution. Much of this information we could have obtained from the textbooks, but the real value to the Leadership Institute was in the classroom experience. The classroom contained a diverse group of individuals from different administrative areas, backgrounds, institutions and conferences. This diversity made the discussions and role-playing so rewarding.

The group often shared first-hand experiences applicable to the discussion. When debating a budgetary policy and procedure, I could look to a member of the class who deals with these matters on a daily basis. His insight proved to be invaluable. Working on current issues from the world of intercollegiate athletics kept you up to date and forced you to be creative with your solutions. Your decisions seemed real. A successful leader is not afraid to step out and try something new. Every leadership situation is unique -- fresh ideas for some may be tried-and-true methods for others.

As I sat in class that first day, I knew the Leadership Institute would be a unique experience. In our early sessions we all "dropped our guard" and found out that we all shared the same questions, anxieties and feelings about being an African-American male in intercollegiate athletics. As a group we came to realize that many of our previous fears were not justified. We are very capable of being successful administrators who will contribute to the growth of intercollegiate athletics. We all will make excellent leaders.

The Leadership Institute has not only made me a better leader, but a better person. I now view leadership in a new light. I hope I was able to contribute to the program as much as the program contributed to my personal and professional growth.

Pete Moore is an assistant commissioner at the Southern Conference.