What Athletic Administrators at the National Athletic Directors Conference Said About Belonging
Insights from Tampa | NADC/NIAAA, December 15 (check out the TAMPA resource page)
At the National Athletic Directors Conference in Tampa, I asked a room of athletic administrators a series of simple questions.
Not about strategy.
Not about compliance.
Not about wins and losses.
I asked about belonging, safety, burnout, and where leaders go to recharge.
Over 260 athletic administrators participated. About one-third actively responded — a strong engagement signal for a large conference setting. What they shared, in real time, offers a powerful snapshot of what leaders across the country are experiencing right now.
Here’s what the data revealed — and why it matters.
1. Gratitude starts with relationships
When asked, “What are you grateful for this afternoon?”, more than 200 responses came in almost immediately.
The most common answer by far: family.
That was followed by opportunity, colleagues, and friends, with additional mentions of health, faith, learning, growth, and simply being present.
What this tells us:
Even in high-pressure leadership roles, motivation is rooted in human connection. Athletic administrators aren’t driven solely by performance metrics — they are anchored by relationships and purpose.
Belonging doesn’t begin in programs.
It begins in people.
2. Safety is communicated through presence, not policies
When asked, “What are other ‘look fors’ that show you are safe in an environment?”, the most common response was strikingly simple:
Smile.
From there, responses clustered around a consistent theme:
eye contact
welcoming body language
being listened to
encouragement
acceptance
confidentiality
the freedom to be yourself
permission to make mistakes
Several responses reflected nervous-system safety: “I don’t fidget and look for an exit,” and “a feeling of calm in an overwhelming setting.”
What this tells us:
Safety is experienced emotionally before it is understood cognitively. Leaders create safety through tone, posture, and presence long before procedures ever come into play.
3. The most powerful daily leadership behavior is attention
When asked, “What’s a small daily behavior you can do to make someone feel safe under your leadership?”, the most upvoted response was:
Making eye contact and giving them your full attention.
Other frequent responses included:
greeting people by name
consistent check-ins
active listening
encouragement
follow-up on previous conversations
showing up for both big and small moments
What this tells us:
Belonging is built through small, repeatable behaviors. Leaders are not looking for grand gestures — they’re looking for habits that are human and sustainable.
4. Identity shapes what leaders notice
One of the most revealing questions asked was:
“What does your identity let you see that others miss?”
The most common responses centered on:
confidence and lack of confidence
“the quiet kid”
the overlooked student
underdogs and outsiders
students masking struggles
neurodiverse learners
multilingual students
students impacted by poverty or instability
What this tells us:
Athletic administrators are deeply aware of who sits on the margins. Identity acts as a lens, allowing leaders to notice students who might otherwise go unseen.
Noticing, however, is only the first step. The work of belonging is what comes next.
5. Third spaces are essential, not optional
When asked, “What is your Third Space — where do you go to recharge and belong?”, responses poured in.
The most common answers included:
church
the gym
golf
fishing
reading
hiking and outdoor spaces
walking
water (lakes, beaches, oceans)
What this tells us:
Third spaces are not indulgences — they are regulation tools. Leaders rely on physical movement, nature, spirituality, and quiet routines to restore themselves.
And leaders who don’t recharge eventually leak exhaustion into the spaces they lead.
6. Burnout shows up relationally before it shows up professionally
When asked, “What behaviors show you’re burning out?”, nearly 190 responses surfaced clear patterns.
The most common indicators:
tiredness
irritability
short fuse
frustration
apathy
withdrawal
negativity
impatience
emotional disconnection
What this tells us:
Burnout first appears in tone, patience, and relationships — long before it appears as resignation or absence.
Burnout thrives in isolation. Connection interrupts it.
7. The message they’re carrying forward: belonging matters
The final question asked:
“What is one idea or reminder you want to carry forward from this session?”
The most repeated word was unmistakable:
Belonging.
Other themes included:
intentional connection
daily check-ins
protecting personal time
reducing isolation
remembering “you are not alone”
prioritizing third spaces
What this tells us:
Athletic administrators understand that belonging is not a soft concept — it is foundational leadership work.
What this means moving forward
This data reinforces what we see every day at The GRL Initiative:
Belonging is built through consistent behaviors, not one-time initiatives.
Safety is communicated through presence and micro-moments, not slogans.
Leaders set the emotional temperature of their environments.
Third spaces are essential to sustainable leadership.
Burnout grows in isolation — belonging grows in connection.
If there is one takeaway to hold onto, it’s this:
Belonging starts with us.
With how we show up.
With how we listen.
With how we care for ourselves — so we can care well for others.
