Importance of Leadership in Sports - Essay Example

?  Importance of Leadership in Sports       Importance of Leadership in Sports Introduction Leadership is a vital human characteristic which is a component of human beings’ heritage. There can never be a leader without adherents. For the successful operation of an organization and the accomplishment of its objectives and goals, leadership is crucial. Without leadership, an organization may be presumed to be a bundle of equipment and individuals. In addition, the characteristic displayed by a leader in the process of supervising subordinates is referred to as leadership style. There are three foremost leadership styles that may be highlighted; they include laissez-faire, democratic, and autocratic. The three forms of leadership may be utilized based on the circumstance the leader finds himself. Leadership is not an attribute that is granted on an individual by chance, it is in part a learned trait. For that reason, there should be practice in leading. Moreover, leadership is significant in all sporting activities because it affects behavior. Team managers, captains, and coaches all have to contain leadership characteristics. Also, they have to be females and males of authentic inspiration. The worth of such leaders cannot be underrated whether they have a short fuse and a laser tongue or they are individuals who show minimal emotions and have few words. These individuals are remarkable leaders in their own right despite having different styles of leadership. In addition, these leaders have a similarity of showing respect to the other players around them (Voight, 2012). This paper will discuss issues in sports leadership. The paper will look at three different forms of leadership in sports, the attributes of an excellent sports leader, and the significance of leadership in sports. The tree forms of leadership in sports include laissez-faire, autocratic, and democratic. A laissez-faire leader does not have absolute supervision of team members and does not give constant response to the team members under his supervision. Highly trained and experienced sports people needing minimal supervision are categorized under laissez-faire leadership style. In addition, laissez-faire leaders make extremely minimal decisions in their teams, the team members largely do things as they desire. It may be asserted that this form of leadership style does not entirely incorporate leadership. This form of leadership may enhance the confidence of the members of the team as these individuals feel entrusted in making their own choices (Sitkin & Hackman, 2011). Nevertheless, it may cause a decrease in moral because of insufficient motivation and lack of guidance. Also, laissez-faire form of leadership hampers the performance of players requiring supervision. The autocratic form of leadership permits leaders in a team to make decisions alone without the contribution of other team members. Team leaders contain absolute influence and enforce their desire on team members. Team members cannot contest the decisions of their leaders. An example of an autocratic leader is Roy Keane who used to play soccer for Manchester United Football Club. He used to inspire and encourage the team and lead from the front through such factors as their individual performance, particularly when the team is losing a match or when the team is underperforming (Krzyzewski & Phillips, 2001). This form of leadership needs proficient decision making techniques as the team leader, captain, or coach is responsible for what actions to take in decisive occasions when the game can frequently be on the line. An occasion like this can break or make a leader. For instance, a soccer manager may be criticized for not exhibiting passion and guidance skills if his team loses against an underperforming team. This style of leadership is essential for team members who need close supervision. Innovative players who flourish in team activities despise this form of leadership. The democratic style of leadership is also referred to as participative leadership. The democratic style of leadership appreciates the contribution of peers and other players, but the duty of reaching the final decision rests with the team leader. Democratic leadership enhances the morale of team members because the team members take part in the process of making decisions. It makes them to feel as if their views are significant. When the team needs to make transformations within the unit, the democratic style of leadership helps players accept modifications effortlessly because they play a part in the decision making process (Weinberg, R., & Gould, 2007). Democratic leaders are the same as person oriented leaders. They act on and listen to views of the members of the team. For example, a high jumper may have a democratic coach, if it is arguable whether he maintains his natural technique or learn the proper technique, the coach may seek assistance from other high jump coaches. Nonetheless, this form of leadership encounters challenges when sporting teams need to make choices within a short time. A sports leader has to make sure that the team members work to their level best, work together, and are motivated. There are a number of attributes that a proficient leader should possess regardless of the sport. One, the team leader should be confident in both himself and his team. This is significant when the leader is required to lead by example. This will make others confident and follow suit. Two, the leader should be inspiring. An inspiring leader will assist the team in concentrating on their objectives and goals. Nevertheless, a team leader uses words, goes to the playing field, and performs her level best regardless of the situation. Three, a decent leader has integrity. The team leader should show commitment to the team regardless of the situation. A respectable leader does not bend the rules or cheat. Finally, a leader should have a clear vision. The leader will precisely know what he requires of the team and concisely communicates it to them (Gould, Voelker & Griffes, 2013). This also includes highlighting the strategies to be utilized, the directions to be followed, and settling any conflicts between teammates. Leadership is a significant component in sports. The significance of leadership in sports, offered by a fellow teammate, coach, or manager, may be essential for the success of the team but only if the appropriate individual is selected as team leader. Team leaders, for example, captains are fundamentally the ears and eyes of the managers or coaches in a team. The team leader in a team is the individual the other members of the team trust in. Team leaders help in understanding the potential of each player and envisaging their future performance. Moreover, team leaders assist in identifying when a player’s performance starts to decline instead of going up. Team leaders take part in the constant assessment of players. Also, team leaders, for example, coaches put the fitting combination of players together to create an efficient group. The group should have the capacity to enforce team strategies. In addition, team leaders have the responsibility of adjusting on the basis of short-term and long-term competitive challenges (Chase, 2007). Moreover, team leaders should not only make team decisions but also encourage, mentor, teach, guide, support, and mentor other members of the team, while hiring higher-potential talent or tutoring successors from different areas who will ultimately take the positions of a number of the existing talent. Conclusion Leadership originates from the personality of an individual. Autocratic, person oriented, and emergent leaders are perceived to be the most fitting for team games. On the other hand, a task oriented and tactical leader is suitable for games that do not require teamwork, for example, athletics (Vincer, Baker, Loughead & Munroe-Chandler, 2007). All forms of leadership have pros and cons, but it is up to the leader to inspire and deliver in the most decisive of situations despite the form of leadership. Moreover, a leader has to make a dedication to the team, the objectives of the team, and the members of the team. References Chase, M. (2007, January 23). The importance of being a leader in sports. Retrieved May 28, 2013. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?The-­Importance-­of-­Being-­a-­Leader-­in-­Sports&id=427592 Gould, D., Voelker, D. K., & Griffes, K. (2013). Best coaching practice for developing team captains. Sport Psychologist, 27(1), 13-2. Retrieved from http://www.athleticinsight.com/Vol8Iss4/FootballPDF.pdf Krzyzewski, M., & Phillips, D. T. (2001). Leading with the heart, coach k\'s successful strategies for basketball, business, and life. New York: Grand Central Publishing. Sitkin, S. B., & Hackman, J., (2011). Developing team leadership: An interview with coach Krzyzewski. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 10(3), 494-501. Vincer, D. J., Baker, A. M., Loughead, T. M., & Munroe-Chandler, K. J. (2007). The role of athlete leadership in dyadic team sports. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 29S209-S210. Voight, M. (2012). A leadership development intervention program: A case study with two elite teams. Sport Psychologist, 26(4), 604-623. Weinberg, R., & Gould, D. (2007). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology (5th ed.) Illinois: Human Kinetics. Read More