There has been much research into leadership and its impact on organisations and individuals. The general conclusion from this research is that the leader must balance the needs of the organisation with the needs of the individuals that are associated with it. This is not always an easy task!
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Current leadership theory is drawn from the various management and organisational theories that have been developed over the past 80 years. These theories help us understand the current ideas on managing people. The major change in the last 80 years has been the shift away from a systems management approach to a people management approach based on individual needs.
One style doesn’t always suit all situations.
View this 11 minute video on different coaching styles. You will see there is a continuum from being controlling (high level of control) to a more open and participative leadership style where the group is involved in their own learning.
Authoritarive or Command Style – Leader likes to be in control and in charge “I know best” attitude.
Activity 4
From the video write down the characteristics of a coaching using this style
When an urgent decision is needed an autocratic leadership style may be appropriate.
Disadvantages
- Can result in high productivity but create hostility, resentment poor quality of work and dependency on leaders
- While, this style of leadership may save time in the short term, few new ideas are generated and generally morale is low.
- Can develop “robot” players
“I was an authoritarian coach when I first started. Because I was an inexperienced
educator (I’m not a teacher by profession), I thought the only way to run a team was by
making all of the decisions without any input from the team. I thought I knew what was
best for the team and just wanted the athletes to follow orders. This worked to a point,
until the athletes questioned why they were performing certain drills. Then I understood
that this style cannot be used all of the time” http://www.mts.net/~cglass/Coaching%20Styles.pdf
Democratic (Participative or Cooperative Style) – “Allow members to make choices & have say in what the group does & becomes”
Activity 5
From the video write down the characteristics of a coach using this style
Seems to produce a higher level of morale and group cohesiveness
“The co-operative coach has the players sharing in the decision-making process. The
coach guides the athletes with decisions and athletes buy into this style because they are
part of the decision-making process. Athletes will work harder to achieve the goals set
by the team and will show more respect and be more willing to listen if they know that
the coach is genuinely interested in their opinions. It also makes the coach more
approachable if an athlete or the team has questions or concerns. However, this style
requires some skill and balance by the coach to know how much decision-making is
required of the athletes, because not all athletes see the team perspective, but have their
own individual perspective.
I have used this style the most. After using the authoritarian style and taking some more
coaching clinics, I started to think like an athlete. If I were an athlete, I’d like to
understand why I’m asked to perform certain tasks. Now I question my athletes as to
why they think they keep serving the ball out, why the pass was crisp right to the setter,
and why they think we’re running serve-receive drills every practice. My athletes realize
that I’m looking out for their best interests and want them to improve”
http://www.mts.net/~cglass/Coaching%20Styles.pdf
Laissez Faire (or Submissive) – This type of leader tends to adopt a policy of not ‘interfering’ with the group by letting them run themselves. This method is generally only effective in highly specialised fields. Due to the lack of leadership, informal leaders tend to take control of the group and conflicts often result. The group tends to drift and productivity is low.
Activity 6
From the video write down the characteristics of a coach using this style
Advantages & Disadvantages
- May work if members are committed to the plan, have resources they need and abilities to process with the project on their own.
- Can produce independence among members but often low morale.
“The casual coach basically lets the players run the program. This is the easiest style to
put into practice and is used by coaches who are not very experienced. The athletes
typically enjoy this style of coaching the most. However, the greatest issue with this
style is that the athletes will not improve very much due to the lack of direction and
training the coach is providing. As a casual coach, you’re basically a supervisor than a
teacher” http://www.mts.net/~cglass/Coaching%20Styles.pdf
Activity 7
