Chapter 1:

THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP

“The strength of the group is in the strength of the leader.”

Vince Lombardi

Introduction

After reading this chapter, you should have knowledge about the following:

1. The concept of leadership2. Canadian leaders in sport and

fitness 3. Theories of leadership from past to

present4. Matching leadership behaviours to

the group and the situation

Good leadership is absolutely essential to any organization

Contents What Is Leadership?

Two Contrasting Examples of Successful Leadership

Canadian Leaders in Sport and Fitness

Studying Leadership

Can Leadership Be Learned?

What is Leadership?

What is Leadership? Leaders help groups set goals, envision the possibilities and

make commitments

Leaders can have a positive influence on the lives and behaviours of others

Leaders are not necessarily people who do great things but rather people who inspire others to do great things

YMCA Definition of Leadership

We measure the effectiveness of a leader not in terms of the leadership he exercises, but in terms of the leadership he evokes; not in terms of power over

others, but in terms of the power released in others; not in terms of the

goals she sets up and the direction she gives, but in terms of goals and plans of action others work out for themselves

with her help; not in terms alone of products and projects completed, but in

terms of growth of competence, sense of responsibility, and personal satisfaction

among many participants

Leadership versus Management

Managers Direct or control operation or

performance

Are concerned with logistics

Leaders Set the overall vision and

inspire

Influence interpersonal relationships and motivation

May show management ability

“Leadership is the knack of getting somebody to do something you want done because he wants to do

it.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Leadership versus Supervision

Supervisors Oversee or inspect the quality of

the work done

Pass judgment on the group members’ performance

Leaders May function as supervisors

BUT also encourage group members to set and achieve their own personal standards

The Person at the Top

Sometimes leaders find themselves in their positions because of their assigned status and leadership ability may be lacking.

On the other hand, people who earn their status as leaders because of their actions may be a source of either support or irritation to the official leaders

Two Contrasting Examples of Successful

Leadership

Success Starts at the Top

Reaching the Peak

Two Contrasting Examples of Successful Leadership

Vince Lombardi

Both coached teams to outstanding records, but their personal styles were at opposite ends of the spectrum

vs. John Wooden

Vince Lombardi

Legendary NFL coach

“Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.”

An extreme example of a task-oriented leader who asked everything of his players

Not everyone liked working for him, but almost every professional football player wanted to have him as a coach because he would bring out their best performances

John Wooden

Influenced personal development of his players

A person who taught on a constant basis based on his “pyramid of success”

Although his practices were very demanding, there was always the sense of people having fun playing a simple game

The Pyramid of Success

Industriousness Friendship Loyalty Cooperation Enthusiasm

Self-control Alertness Initiative Intentness

Condition Skill Teamwork

Poise Confidence

Competitive greatness

Ambition & Sincerity

Adaptability & Honesty

Reliability & Resourcefulness

Strength & Integrity

Faith & Patience

Canadian Leaders In Sports and Fitness

Wayne Gretzky “The Great One”

Rewrote the NHL record books: Winning four Stanley Cups Scoring 1,016 goals Assisting on 2,223 others Amassing an amazing total of 3,239 points

Captained the Edmonton Oilers

Executive director of Team Canada (Olympic gold medal in 2002)

Co-owner and coach of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes

Carol Anne Letheren

Former CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee

A member of the International Olympic Committee

Trailblazer for women in sport

Lived and advocated the Olympic values

Jack Donohue

The head coach of Canada’s national basketball team

Extraordinary ability to motivate players using pioneering sport psychology strategies

Continues to have an impact on coaching education for Basketball Canada and the National Coaching Development Program

Beckie Scott Cross-country skiing

2002 Olympic gold medal 2006 Olympic silver medal

Ardent advocate for drug-free sport

An elected member of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission

Charitable work (UNICEF and Right to Play)

On Board of Directors for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Cassie Campbell

A role model, ambassador, and author in women’s hockey

Played on six world championship teams and captained the national team to two Olympic gold medals

First woman to work as a colour analyst on Hockey Night in Canada

Charitable work (Ronald McDonald House’s Cassie Campbell Street Hockey Festival, and Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey program)

Clara Hughes A multitalented athlete (cycling &

skating)

The only person to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics

A public speaker, a television commentator and a humanitarian

Does extensive work for Right to Play

Involved with a school program that introduces Canadian children to the benefits of sport and physical activity

Dick Pound Has been one of the most

influential members of the International Olympic Committee

Largely responsible for making the Olympics a multibillion dollar industry

The current chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

Outspoken in his efforts to eliminate cheaters from amateur and professional sport

David Patchell-Evans Started off as a champion rower

before a body-crushing motorcycle accident

Devoted himself to helping other Canadians realize the importance of staying physically fit

Owns and operates >50 GoodLife Fitness Clubs

The key person in the establishment in 1993 of Can-Fit-Pro Inc.

Silken Laumann To everyone’s amazement she won the bronze medal despite

severe injury 10 weeks prior to 1992 Summer Olympics

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Member of the Canadian Olympic Association

Charitable commitment to

children Ronald McDonald Children’s

Charities Silken’s ActiveKids Movement Right to Play

Michael “Pinball” Clemons

Came to Canada as a player deemed too small to make it in American football

Successful CFL playing career that spanned 12 seasons

In 2004, became the first black coach in the history of the CFL to hoist the Grey Cup in victory

Motivational speaking abilities

Leads the Toronto Argonauts in a campaign to help eliminate bullying in schools

Rick Hansen World-class athlete

Man In Motion World Tour (1985): 40,000 km through 34 countries Raised more than $26 million for spinal

cord research Goal - a fully accessible and inclusive

society

Appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada (1987)

The Rick Hansen Foundation has generated more than $178 million for research into a cure for spinal cord injury

Danièle Sauvageau

Coached the Canadian women’s hockey team to a world championship in 1999

Became the first female coach of a major junior male team

CHA coach of the year (2000)

The first coach in 50 years to lead a Canadian hockey team to an Olympic gold medal (2002)

Leaders or Celebrities?

Many individuals who have achieved special recognition in sport – even “icon” status

– have not necessarily displayed special leadership

skills. For example, Terry Fox is recognized as an icon and a positive role

model. Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to

realize his potential as a group leader.

Studying Leadership

Trait Theory of Leadership Great leaders are born, not made

A summary of the personality traits of leaders vs. non-leaders: Drive and ambition The desire to lead and influence Honesty and integrity Self-confidence Intelligence In-depth technical knowledge

Possessing certain personality traits only makes it more likely that an individual can become an effective leader

Personality Theory of Leadership 4 leader personality types:

OrganizedLike structure & rules

Very dependable.

CuriousInnovative

Problem solvers

ActiveFun loving

Adventuresome

Warm & empathetic Strong communication

Strive for harmony

Personality Theory of Leadership We usually have a preferred way of functioning

Because we are all a blend of the four types, we can function from each perspective when necessary

Important to understand all the types to capitalize on your strengths and build on your weak areas

Behaviour Theory of Leadership Two distinct leadership

dimensions

Task orientation leadership–

Emphasis on achieving performance goals

Relationship orientation leadership –

Emphasis on interpersonal relationships

Low Task Behaviour High

High task andlow relationship

Low task andlow relationship

High relationship andhigh task

High relationship andlow task

High

Relationship Behaviour

Low

Comprehensive Theory of Leadership Leadership success is a

function of the leader’s behaviour, the group members’ characteristics and situational factors

A change in any element affects the outcome or effectiveness of leadership

A leader needs to be sensitive to the characteristics of each group member

Telling

(Members are unable and willing)

Delegating

(Members are able and willing)

Selling

(Members are unable and unwilling)

Partying

(Members are able and unwilling/apprehensive)

Low Task Behaviour High

High Low

Relationship Behaviour

Low

Comprehensive Theory of LeadershipGroup Member Characteristics

A task-oriented leader will bring out the best in group members who: Have low affiliation needs Have a high need to achieve goals Accept authority Like careful, detailed planning Prefer material rewards

A relationship-oriented leader will bring out the best with members who: Seek opportunities to socialize Have low achievement needs Are independent thinkers Tolerate ambiguity Prefer intrinsic rewards

Comprehensive Theory of Leadership

Situational factors:

A relationship-oriented leader will excel when

The task is unstructuredThe degree of stress is lowRoles are unclear or flexible

The group is smallTime constraints are loose

A task-oriented leader will excel when

The task is structuredThe degree of stress is high

Roles are clearly definedThe group is large

Deadlines must be met.

Situational Theory of Leadership Leadership styles range from highly autocratic (directive) through

democratic (participative) to highly laissez-faire

The most effective leadership behaviour depends on the followers’ ability and motivation

AUTOCRATIC………………………….………………..DEMOCRATIC……………………………………………..LAISSEZ-FAIRE

Leader-Centred Follower-Centred

Leader permits group to function independently within set limits.

Leader defines limits and asks group to make decision.

Leader presents problem, welcomes suggestions, makes decision.

Leader makes tentative decision subject to input from group

Leader presents decision and invites feedback.

Leader makes decision and “sells” it.

Leader makes decision and announces it.

Task-oriented leader who makes all decisions

Directs the group by command or request

Effective when:

• the group needs complete direction, (members are novices and respect the leader’s superiority)

• the group is unable to work through a group decision-making process

• there is a crisis (well-suited to medical or military situations)

Autocratic (Directive) Leadership Style

Democratic (Participative) Leadership Style

Group members contribute to the overall organizational goals

Key attributes: Group goal setting = team management Open negotiation Delegation of control over own performance Sharing of the team’s successes and failures

Value placed on achieving consensus Leader retains right to make final decision

if disagreement persists

Laissez-Faire Leadership Style

Leader is informed but steps back from decision making and acts as a resource

Effective when the group has become competent and is functioning well

Leader does not abandon the group but instead retains responsibility for seeing that it continues to function

Benevolent Dictator Asks group members for advice, puts on a show of considering

their feelings and opinions, but then makes own administrative decisions

Initially viewed quite favourably

Eventually resentment sets in

Leaders with this style do not normally last long

Can Leadership Be Learned?

Can Leadership Be Learned?

Leadership can be learned through experience

It is a lifelong day-by-day learning process built on continued self-examination, introspection and self-searching honesty

People need to refine their strengths and improve their weaknesses

Although many leadership skills can be learned in the classroom, practical experience is necessary