Character Wins: Accountability, Empathy, and Courage

A Deep Dive into 3 Character Skills That Elevate a Leader and Teammate

Championships are won on fields, tracks, and courts, but authentic leadership is won in locker rooms, film rooms, and quiet moments when no one is watching.

At Battle Tested by EDGE, Blake Williams and Dan Freschi assert that the foundation of every great teammate and leader isn’t just performance, it’s character. Stats fade. Headlines pass. Yet, how you show up for yourself, your team, and the moments that matter leaves a lasting impact.

Among the many character skills we help athletes develop through our Student-Athlete Leadership Assessment (SALA), three rise to the top as game-changers:

• Accountability

• Empathy

• Courage

These aren’t buzzwords. They’re the difference-makers. The uncommon edge. The habits that define not only who you are as an athlete but also who you’ll become as a person, teammate, and leader for life. We know that Character Wins: Accountability, Empathy, and Courage.

Let’s break them down.

Accountability: Own It Before You Lead It

“Great leaders don’t shift blame. They own the moment.”

Accountability is the foundation of trust. In sports, it means arriving on time, fulfilling your responsibilities, and owning up when you fall short, without making excuses.

But more fundamentally, accountability represents a form of personal leadership. It involves taking ownership of your effort, attitude, and influence. You don’t wait for someone to check in on you; instead, you check in on yourself. You lead yourself first, allowing others to follow.

Battle-Tested Athletes With Accountability:

• The Workhorse, who shows up early, stays late, and sets the tone for effort.

• The Rookie, who doesn’t use age or inexperience as an excuse.

• The Voice, who speaks up and holds others (and themselves) to a higher standard.

How to Build It:

• Be the first to admit mistakes. Saying “my bad” builds respect faster than pretending you’re perfect.

• Follow through. Always. If you say you’ll do something, do it.

• Ask for feedback. It’s not weakness—it’s wisdom.

Legacy Impact:

Teammates trust leaders who take ownership. Coaches rely on them. When accountability is your habit, consistency becomes your brand, and trust follows.

Empathy: Understand Before You Lead

“If you want to lead people, you need to see them first.”

In competitive sports, empathy might seem like an unlikely advantage. But don’t underestimate it. Empathy is what turns a player into a teammate—and a teammate into a leader.

Empathy is the ability to understand, respect, and relate to the emotions and experiences of others. It’s relational awareness—knowing when someone needs a push, a pause, or just a moment of support.

The best teams thrive not only on skill but also on connection, with empathy serving as the essential glue that holds them together.

Battle-Tested Athletes With Empathy:

• The Caretaker, who checks in, follows up, and makes sure no one’s left behind.

• The Sherpa, who mentors others through both sports and life.

• The Bench Coach, who offers encouragement and support, even without playing time.

How to Build It:

• Listen more than you speak. Ask how people are doing and mean it.

• Be curious, not critical. If a teammate’s off their game, ask why before judging.

• Celebrate others' success. Even when you're struggling. That’s true leadership.

Legacy Impact:

Empathy earns trust. When teammates know you see them and care about them beyond the game, they’ll follow you anywhere. Empathy turns teams into families.

Courage: Speak Up. Step Up. Stand Tall.

“Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s action in spite of it.”

Courage shows up when the pressure’s on. When the easy route is to stay silent, quit, or point fingers, courage steps forward.

In leadership, courage is speaking truth, risking rejection, trying again after failure, and challenging teammates (and yourself) to be better. It’s confronting what’s uncomfortable, for the sake of what’s right.

And courage is contagious. Once one athlete chooses it, others follow.

Battle-Tested Athletes With Courage:

• The Comeback Kid, who gets up every time they’re knocked down.

• The Voice, who isn’t afraid to call out laziness or selfishness.

• The Wounded Warrior, who continues to lead even while sidelined.

How to Build It:

• Speak up when something’s off. Silence protects comfort. Courage protects culture.

• Take on the hard reps. Go first. Lead drills. Try the new role.

• Own your story. Whether it’s a failure, a setback, or a weakness, share it. People don’t follow perfect. They follow real.

Legacy Impact:

Courage defines you in significant moments and builds trust in everyday situations. When teammates see you engage in difficult conversations, challenging plays, or tough seasons, they will remember you as someone who never backs down.

Why Character Wins: Accountability, Empathy, and Courage Together

Individually, accountability, empathy, and courage are potent. But when cultivated together, they have the power to revolutionize a team’s culture.

Here’s how they connect:

• Accountability earns trust

• Empathy builds connection

• Courage inspires action

Together, they form a complete foundation for character-driven leadership. A player who owns their mistakes, cares deeply for their teammates, and isn’t afraid to speak or act with conviction?

That’s a Battle-Tested Leader both on and off the field.

Your Leadership Starts With Character

You don’t have to be the star to lead. You don’t need to be a senior or a captain.

You need to choose:

• To own your actions (accountability)

• To see and support others (empathy)

• To lead when it’s hard (courage)

Character isn’t built overnight. But it is built daily. And it wins on the scoreboard, in relationships, and in life beyond the game.

So ask yourself:

• Where do I need to take more ownership?

• Who on my team needs my encouragement right now?

• What fear have I been avoiding that I need to step into?

Because the athlete who develops these three skills is the athlete who leaves a legacy that matters.

🚨 Take the Next Step

Want to discover your leadership style and strengthen the character skills that matter most? Take the Student-Athlete Leadership Assessment (SALA) and start leading the uncommon way—through character, not just performance.

👉 Student Athlete Leadership Assessment

📲 Connect with us, Battle Tested by EDGE

🔁 Share this with a teammate who’s leading through character.