From the Volleyball Court to the Chief of Staff Seat
I’ve never had higher expectations placed on me than as a volleyball setter on an elite team.
Every set must be perfect. A little to the left. A little to the right. Tighter. Off the net. Faster. Give her more time. Follow through. Now go cover. Where were you?
Run the court. Tell everyone where they’re going. Tell everyone what play we’re running. While you’re at it, choose a serving zone.
And as the leader… bring everyone together every play. Be positive. Give feedback. Be motivational. High five every teammate, every single play. Smile—things are good, always.
If it’s a kill? Great hit. If it’s an error? Fix the set.
When I tell you I’ve been a perfectionist most of my life, I don’t know if it was the game that made me one or my perfectionism that made me great at the game.
I think the best coaches make setters feel a little more human… telling hitters to adjust, praising setters for getting to the ball no matter what, and putting them in a safe place for a teammate to do their job.
But you’ll find these unrealistic setter expectations on any team. And while they may be unfair, I thrived, most of the time. I loved being the leader. And I learned a heck of a lot, about a lot of things.
Lessons That Stayed with Me
And while I think the lessons were a bit harsh for young Maggie, driving home that no matter what, I was responsible for every single play, always on me (thanks coach)… the responsibility and ability to thrive under pressure sure echo how I’ve found myself in the real world, and most notably as a high-level Chief of Staff.
Chiefs of Staff aren’t the stars—but we’re absolutely setting others up to be. Ideally, we go unnoticed, and things are good. But when something falters, it’s on us to have planned better, been more in the loop, had one more conversation.
Chiefs of Staff are the eyes and ears of team, culture, operations, and dynamics. We must listen excellently, take feedback nonstop, and work well with everyone.
We translate our leader’s direction, vision, and strategy into well-executed action… or plays. We quickly adapt, bring in new teammates, and regardless of whether we’re winning or losing, we have the confidence that we can figure it out, pull through, and put in the hard work to get the job done.
Full-Circle Moment
The lessons in leadership from the volleyball court are countless. And I’m often left wondering, where would I be now, had I not been a volleyball player?
A setter? A Chief of Staff.
For the last three years, I’ve been in Lincoln, NE, with a front-row seat to the best volleyball program in the nation. Go Huskers! To watch Bergen Riley (S), with coaches John Cook and now Dani Busboom, lead this team has been so fun.
It takes me back to my days as a setter. And reminds me why I’m a great Chief of Staff.
Volleyball taught me to lead under pressure, to read the room before the play, and to make others look good while staying calm in the chaos. Those same instincts are what make great Chiefs of Staff—steady hands, quick minds, and teammates first.