When it comes to "encouraging the heart" I need to be bolder and more communicative in ways that I can express my appreciation to my athletes, and thus encourage them to perform at their best level. As this strategy involves the act of recognizing "individual contributions to the success of every project" and "Celebrating team accomplishments regularly" communication is clearly key. I definitely need to be more proactive and praising my athletes and talking about how important their hard work is to me, regardless of the outcome of the match. it's important for me to thank my athletes from time to time and express how much their courage and their risk-taking is inspiring to me and to the entire school. Such words can work wonders in boosting morale and helping athletes keep the "bigger picture" of events in their mind.
Essentially, all the key aspects of leadership are the areas that I need marked improvement on. "It really comes down to doing well by doing well and in doing so leaders provide their followers with an example of purposeful and principled living. People not only want to follow such leaders, but they also do so with great enthusiasm" (Baldoni, 2012). Inspiring others to work at their best by putting my best work forward isn't easy, but it's something that I'm fully prepared to do. Encouraging others from the places in their soul that makes them love wrestling and love the feel of pushing their bodies to perfection is another aspect that I can work on. it's important that my players don't feel like they're merely "punching a time clock" when they come to practice, but working to better themselves and the sport they love.
I scored in a satisfactory manner on categories of "Challenge the Process" and "Enable Others to Act." When it comes to challenging...
I've worked constantly to improve the facilities and the opportunities for athletes -- not just wrestlers -- so that students in the athletic department can truly devote themselves to the work that they feel passionate about. When it comes to shaping the athletic department and the manner in which things are done there, I truly feel as though I've been able to exert some visionary leadership, just as Kouzes and Posner have described. I feel I have also behaved in a similar fashion when it comes to enabling others to act. I believe that since I've been coaching the wrestling team, the level of teamwork and general camaraderie has increased, generally as a result of the fact that I've had them do a lot of paired training and reminded the constantly, that while they might wrestle without their teammates, they're still part of a big team.
When it comes to acting politically within the department, I've worked hard to raise the funding and money allotted to the athletics department. I've gotten permission to invite inspirational athletics leaders to the school, and I've helped to organize fundraisers to bring more money in for the wrestling team. Things like new training supplies, new uniforms and new tools can all raise morale for the team and that's very important to me.
References
Baldoni, J. (2012, March 6). Wh Great Leaders Inspire Others. Retrieved from Inc.com: http://www.inc.com/john-baldoni/why-great-leaders-inspire-others-to-follow.html
Kouzes, J., & Posner, B. (n.d.). The leadership challenge. Retrieved from http://www.leadershipchallenge.com/Professionals-section-LPI.aspx
