Coach LeadershipWorkshop 4Workshop 4

Leadership begins with self-knowledge

“Self-knowledge is the basis for character... Character is the root

of integrity...Integrity provides the foundation

for leadership”.(Lombardi, 2001)

Leadership in simple terms

• Understand the vision.• Direct and enable others to

cooperate in achieving it.

“Leadership is the ability to direct people, more important, to have those people accept that direction”.(Lombardi, 2001)

Leadership is about• motivating• inspiring• taking people to greater heights• working with participants on the how and helping them

figure out the what and why• encouraging them to push themselves to achieve the

highest possible performance• action• enabling, not telling• talking the talk and walking the walk...walking alongside.

Leadership is about (continued)

“Leadership that pulls together people with diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and interests, encourages them to step up to responsibility and continued achievement, and treats them as full scale partners and contributors.

Leadership is not about memorising techniques or devising the perfect game plan. It is about really paying attention to people – really believing them, really caring about them, really involving them.”

(Peters & Austin, 1985)

Leadership as empowermentCurrent ideas on leadership involve empowering followers to self-lead.

This is important in a coach leadership role, as empowering athletes enables them to make their own decisions and self-lead during performance.

Leaders build leadershipTo build leadership the leader has to enable participant independence so they can perform with freedom and autonomy to make informed decisions without the leader around.(Hinkson, 2001)

The leadership roleA good leader is a person who•is a good teacher

•doesn’t put down those they are working with

•gets the most from those they are working with

•works within the framework of the rules.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

John C. Maxwell

The ingredients of a successful leader• create and practise values

• develop committed followers

• inspire lofty accomplishments

• model appropriate behaviour

• focus attention on important issues

• connect the group to the outside world.

(Lee & King, 2001)

What is successful leadership?Successful leaders get the most out of the participants and enable them to learn•how to lead and follow within the team•how to make good decisions•not to be afraid to fail•character values•how to be successful leaders and people•to be the best they can be.

(Adapted from Hinkson, 2001)

The Lombardi Leadership Model (2001)

Which of these leadership traits are the hardest for you?

Building team culture• Team culture is built from individuals’ values,

beliefs, intentions, behaviour and commitment to the team vision and goals.

• It’s about creating opportunities for the group to learn about each other and make decisions.

Building team culture (continued)

• Growing a group of individuals into a team going in the same direction is part of the challenge of coaching team sports.

• It is about understanding why each individual is there and then collectively deciding where the team is going. www.sporttaranaki.org.nz

Building team culture (continued)

• Allowing everyone to understand the team direction, rules and way of working is essential, no matter how old the athletes are.

Steps to setting up an effective team• Get to know each other,

spend time with activities getting to know each other at the start of your season.

• Set goals together, allow everyone to have buy-in to the group goals.

• Work out a plan of how to achieve the goals.

Steps to setting up an effective team (continued)• Assign roles to each

team member so everyone has ownership.

• Monitor and evaluate as the season progresses.

• Ask questions of the athletes and the team and solve them together.

Steps to setting up an effective team (continued)

• Give lots of feedback both individually and collectively.

• Value individuals alongside the specialness of the team.

America’s Cup Team New Zealand Rules of Operation• fairness and honesty -

‘play nicely together’

• openness – ‘share your toys’

• emphasise simplicity

• focus – remember the big picture

• we will encourage creativity and emphasise follow-through.

Reflective practice

Reflect on your coaching experience by answering the following questions

•What went well with your chosen activity?

•Why did it go well?

•Why didn’t it go as well as you had hoped?

Reflective practice (continued)

• What would you change for next time?

• What surprised you?

• Would you choose that activity again? Why? Why not?

ReferencesHinkson, J. (2001). The art of team coaching. Canada: Warwick Publishing Inc.

Lee, R. J. & King, S.N. (2001). Discovering the leader in you: A guide to realising your personal leadership potential. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Lombardi, V. Jr. (2001). What it takes to be #1: Vince Lombardi on leadership. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Peters, A.L. & Austin, S.J. (1985) A Passion for Excellence- the Leadership Difference.