Editor's note: 'Business Matters' columnist Arnelle Adcock is working out of state this week. We welcome her business partner Shelly Gary as a guest columnist today.

Whether the title is CEO, business owner, or manager we are each called to display leadership in our perspective role. As leaders, we are expected to guide people in an effective and positive way that encourages growth, productivity and, if we are lucky, a little fun. You probably know from experience that this is not easy.

I was reminded of the importance of how the effective leadership of one person can change an entire team when our recreational league softball team had a surprise visitor last Friday night.

After arriving to the field 10 minutes before the game was scheduled to start, we learned that the other team had cancelled just minutes before. We all started to go home. At that point our team captain called an impromptu practice. We had the field for an hour so, why not? Fifteen minutes into practice, a gentleman (who I had never met) by the name of Siran joined us.

Siran showed up, all smiles, with the intention of playing the game with our team as a friend of our captain. Practice changed. We went from our usual laid back, goof- off rec league practice to full fledge game-like play. If you let a ball get past you, you ran a sprint. If you went for the ball off the bounce instead of in the air, you were heckled and told you could do better. I was in college athletic practice mode again.

Siran was leading us out of our comfort zone and challenging us to improve our skills. As a natural leader, he also held himself accountable to the same rules that he set before his team. What a concept!

Our team had never fielded the ball so well. We surprised ourselves. He even had the whole group of 30+ year olds running sprints after practice and we actually had fun doing it. I kept asking myself, "Who is this guy??"

If you are a University of Alabama fan or an Alabama native, you have probably heard of him. Siran Stacy is a former University of Alabama running back who set numerous Alabama records and continued to play in professional leagues after college. In 2007 Siran and his family were involved in a tragic car wreck which killed four of his children and his wife. His 4-year-old daughter Shelly and he were the only survivors. As one can only imagine, Siran faced difficult times after this tragedy.

Siran now shares his story of faith to churches and organizations throughout the Southeast. He challenges everyone who will listen to go beyond adversity in order to live life to the fullest. He is a living testimonial of his message.

The softball team was not his typical audience, but last Friday Siran was a symbol and reminder that one person's attitude can make an immense difference in the performance of the entire team. As evolving leaders, we should embrace those human role models that remind us, "Leadership cannot really be taught, it can only be learned." – Harold Genee, CEO ITT Corp.

Shelly Gary is the other tall woman who with regular Business Matters columnist Arnelle Adcock owns Clover Management Group in Brentwood. Contact her at sgary@clovermg.com.