A633.9.3.RB - Polyarchy Reflections

I found this particular assignment interesting because when applied to my field of coaching, oligarchy is still in place with few leaders over many followers. We have coaches, usually 2 or 3, and then captains, usually just 1 or 2, who lead 16 players. But, as a coach it is our job to get ALL of our players prepared for life after school basketball in the real world, a world, which is quickly transitioning to a society of polyarchy. This makes our job tricky because we want to remain a successful team with our same principles in place, but yet develop the leadership skills necessary in all our players, not just our captains.

            With our need to develop all of our player’s leadership skills even more, as they venture off into a new world of polyarchy, it changes how we will need to lead as coaches. In the past, in our team meetings or talks after practice, the captains are always encouraged to speak up if something is on their mind. Whether it is something heavy or just a couple comments about a particular drill. Prior to games, halftimes, as well as after, the captain is called upon to do the same, usually more formal and inspirational during a game. All of these acts develop leadership for the captain. Now the problem is it is only developing his abilities, much more than the others. As a coach in the future, I will have to develop many more opportunities for the rest of the individuals on the team to step up as a leader and address the team with whatever insight they may have. This will help prepare everyone even more for their life after school and basketball.

            I do believe polyarchy is fast replacing old oligarchy assumptions, but I don’t believe this makes the old models redundant. There is still much to be learned from the old models that will help leaders strive forward in whatever organization they may be in. I do also think that there could be small changes made however to models, which show the movement we are making towards polyarchy.

A633.9.3.RB - Polyarchy Reflections

I found this particular assignment interesting because when applied to my field of coaching, oligarchy is still in place with few leaders over many followers. We have coaches, usually 2 or 3, and then captains, usually just 1 or 2, who lead 16 players. But, as a coach it is our job to get ALL of our players prepared for life after school basketball in the real world, a world, which is quickly transitioning to a society of polyarchy. This makes our job tricky because we want to remain a successful team with our same principles in place, but yet develop the leadership skills necessary in all our players, not just our captains.

            With our need to develop all of our player’s leadership skills even more, as they venture off into a new world of polyarchy, it changes how we will need to lead as coaches. In the past, in our team meetings or talks after practice, the captains are always encouraged to speak up if something is on their mind. Whether it is something heavy or just a couple comments about a particular drill. Prior to games, halftimes, as well as after, the captain is called upon to do the same, usually more formal and inspirational during a game. All of these acts develop leadership for the captain. Now the problem is it is only developing his abilities, much more than the others. As a coach in the future, I will have to develop many more opportunities for the rest of the individuals on the team to step up as a leader and address the team with whatever insight they may have. This will help prepare everyone even more for their life after school and basketball.

            I do believe polyarchy is fast replacing old oligarchy assumptions, but I don’t believe this makes the old models redundant. There is still much to be learned from the old models that will help leaders strive forward in whatever organization they may be in. I do also think that there could be small changes made however to models, which show the movement we are making towards polyarchy.

A633.8.3.RB - How Do Coaches Help?

Being a basketball coach myself and having played the sport dealing with coaches all of my life, it is very similar to the job of an executive coach. There is a coaching theory (for sports coaches at least) that says for every 1 piece of negative criticism you should give 7 positive ones. This sort of defines the meaning and job of being a coach. A coach is there to provide confidence and guidance in the client, to let him know he cares and is willing to adjust behaviors but mostly to encourage through his/her experience the right way to handle the situation and to empower the client to bring the best out in himself.

Coaching and leadership go hand in hand because a leader must truly care about the personal and professional growth of subordinates. I heard once that good leaders don’t make good followers they make other good leaders and that statement says everything about a leaders responsibility to coach and grow the people around them. Coaching and mentoring is crucial to the development of people in organizations, inexperienced members need that attention and guidance or they can become lost and unaware of their role and true potential.

The right leadership and coaching can have a huge positive impact on an organization, its internal chemistry, its employee engagement, its productivity, and its success. Coaching and leadership taps into the individual potential of the people of the organization and the true potential of the organization. A culture in which peers learn from each other in no specific hierarchy makes for the most successful of organizations.

In our organization we have such a culture, people treat others with respect and have for the most part positive learning work relationships. Our leaders are humble and truly care about the successes of all of us from the coaches, support staff, to the student athletes. This is our culture, our culture of building leaders out of our coaches and players, so they may have the best student athlete experience and be prepared for a successful life after their sport.