What is Leadership?

Leadership – Key Points »Leadership in Simple Terms »Leader Characteristics »Qualities of Leadership »Leadership as Empowerment »The Leadership Role »The Ingredients of a Successful Leader »What is Successful Leadership »The Lombardi Leadership Model (2001)

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) What do you know about yourself as a leader?

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 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) How would you define leadership?

Leader Characteristics include: »Ability »Knowledge »Experience »Personality (Bennis, 2003) What characteristics of leadership do you have?

Qualities of Leadership »Leadership qualities are demonstrated in a leader’s behaviour, not their position. “Leadership is not just one quality but rather a blend of qualities”. (Lombardi, 2001)

Leadership Qualities »Enable direction and structure by the group »A clear vision »Charisma »Enable motivation and enthusiasm »Make a difference »People-oriented skills »Skilful communicator »Build character »Empathy (McConnell, 2000) What leadership qualities do you have? »Vision and passion »Strong communicating skills »Role model »Have integrity and honesty »Be organised (Trenberth and Collins, 1994)

Leadership as Empowerment “A good leader inspires people to have confidence in their leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves”. (Anonymous)

Leadership as Empowerment Current 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. “The best leaders - people do not even notice their existence. The next best - people honour and praise. The next the people fear. The next the people hate. When the best leader’s work is done the people say ‘we did it ourselves’.” (Lao-Tzu in Morris, Willcocks and Knasel, 2000)

Leaders Build Leadership To 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 Role A 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 other ingredients are important to be a successful leader?

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? CharacterBeliefHabit Courage Responsibility Sacrifice WillpowerHard work Mental Toughness Discipline

Finally... Leadership is a combination of character and competence; of who you are and what you can do. (Covey, 2004)

References Bennis, W. (2003). On becoming a leader. New York, NY: Perseus Publishing. Covey, S.R. (2004). The 7 Habits of highly effective people. New York, NY: Free Press Hinkson, 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. McConnell, R. (2000). The successful coach: A practical guide for beginners and experts. Auckland: Harper Collins Publishers. Morris, S., Willcocks, G., & Knasel, E. (2000) How to lead a winning team. Harlow, UK: Prentice Hall Peters, A.L. & Austin, S.J. (1985) A Passion for Excellence- the Leadership Difference Trenberth, L. & Collins, C. (1999). Sport business management in New Zealand. Palmerston North: The Dunmore Press Limited.