Leadership: Thought from the book, The Servant Leader by James Hunter
Leadership: The skill of influencing people to work enthusiastically towards goals identified as being for the common good of the team or group. It can be done in two ways
1.Power: The ability to force or coerce someone to do your will, even though they would choose not to, if they had a choice, because of your position or your might. This is an ability to get things done.
Drill Sargent in the Army. The bully in school, do it or I will beat you up. A lot of old time coaches, some parents. Do it because I said so. Do it or else.
2.Authority: The skill of getting people to willing do your will because of your personal influence. You show them that you really care about them as an individual person. For this type of coach or leader, you would walk through a wall for them. You do what they request because you trust them and respect them and know they wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t for the good of the team
This type of leadership is a SKILL..
Both types of leadership work. How ever with the power type, there is often resentment and fear. Once the child leaves home or the athlete moves on off that coaches team, they rebel against that type of leadership and there is seldom a bond of trust and love with this person.
When individuals were asked about a coach or leader that used the authority type of leadership. They used words like: They were honest and trustworthy, committed and caring, a good role model. They were good listeners and treated us with respect. They were positive, enthusiastic, and very encouraging. They appreciated us and still held us accountable.
This type of leader develops a bond with there group or team and years later they will come back for advice or to just talk. Most championship teams have great team chemistry and a special bond that is the result of a leader or coach that leads with Authority.
From Preston Gillham, Five characteristics of Effective Leaders
1. Effective leaders Listen 2. Effective leaders have Vision 3. Effective leaders are Passionate 4. Effective leaders are Facilitators 5. Effective leaders Empower others.
In his book, The Season of Life by Jeff Marx, he talks about the championship football team that had the motto, The coaches job was to love there players and the players job was to love each other.
In the Greek language there are four different words for love. In English they get lumped together in one word, love. The love Jeff Marx is talking about is Phileo love, which is based on friendship and the love of friends for one another. It also means, Storge love which is the love of a family for one another. Parents for their children, sister and brother love for each other. The special family bond. The love that holds family together through all kinds of hard times.
The other two Greek word for love are, Agape, which is not a feeling but an action, like love your enemies in the Bible, and Eros love, which our country has so distorted and pushed which is sexual love.
Successful teams have the love of friendship and family, That special bond of togetherness where each one cares more for their teammates than themselves.
