The
Effective Leader and Director
What
is a leader?
l
A person with power and influence over people
l
Natural leaders have charisma
l
They attract people
l
A director gains his/her power and influence from
their position
The
Importance of leadership and managerial effectiveness
l
Directors are on the lower rungs of the managerial
ladder.
l
Directors, chairpersons, coaches, instructors are
important leaders to program-level effectiveness.
l
Effective leadership most important factor in success
of sports and fitness programs
Determining
Leadership Effectiveness
l
By how well those who are being led achieve the goals
of the unit or organization
l
Coaches must win even though there are additional
goals and objectives for athletics
l Productivity is another objective that is most
often used as a measure of effectiveness
For a private health club the gross revenue generated
from increases in membership, and the margin of profit are
measures of effectiveness.
l Schools often look to organizational stability
instead of optimum productivity as a measure of effectiveness
l
Effectiveness is measured in terms of how well the
goals of the organization are met
l
When the goals of the organization are identified, the
criteria for managerial effectiveness can be established
Managerial
Opportunities and Requirements
l
Lack of qualified managerial people to fill positions
l
People promoted without the skills
Challenges
to the Director
l
Leading without complete authority or restrictions to
their authority
l
Assigned the responsibility for establishing program
goals and leading the constituents to achieve the goals
l
Example: page 39
Upper-level
Administrators
l
Department Chairs in Universities have Deans and
Academic VPs
l
High School Teachers and coaches have Superintendents
and Principles
l
Sports Clubs and YMCAs have managers and executive
directors
l
They all make decisions that the director must live
with.
The
Director
l
Must live with the effects of the decisions
l
They have things in common with the unit members
Preparation
Professional
associations
Professional
values and creeds
Work
in same environment
Qualifications
of a Director
l
Desire to lead Sometimes rewards, predicted
difficulties, and relations with others have a bearing on their interest.
l
Leadership Attributes and Skills
l
Training and Experience
Motivation
to lead
l
Rewards
Salaries
Power
Having
control of others and ones own destiny
Can
facilitate satisfaction
A
Supportive Staff
l
One of the major reasons why people will not consider
an leadership role is the fear of being rejected by their constituency
A
Chance of Succeeding
l
Realistic chances of achieving goals
l
Compare job expectations with the resources available
l
Failure to achieve goals cannot be replaced by power,
pay, or a supportive staff
l
When effective leaders fail to achieve expectations,
the job needs to be redesigned
Cost
of Leadership
l
Knowing that you are the person most responsible for
the success of a program is very satisfying.
l
Three prices that have to be paid:
Responsibility
Loneliness
Criticism
and Abuse
Responsibility
l
Totally responsible for the well-being and production of their
unit
l
Give praise to subordinates when things go well;
accept blame when things dont go well
l
Appreciation and gratitude shown by the subordinates
when the glory is shared with them is a reward to the director
Loneliness
l
When the director must make tough and unpopular
decisions
l
When a person is promoted above their fellow workers,
and have to make decisions concerning them
Criticism
and Abuse
l
Average mature adult is capable of accepting and
adjusting to constructive criticism, but when it is unjustified it takes a
special way of defending oneself
l
Not to fight back and hurt others
Attributes
of an Effective Leader
l
American Council on Education identified
characteristics for evaluating candidates:
Resourcefulness
and adaptability
Integrity
and honesty
Courage
and commitment
Ability
in interpersonal relations
Professionalism
Assertiveness
and sense of direction
Organizational
and analytical ability
Poise
and confidence
l
Communication skills
l
Vigor and capacity for
work
l
Judgment
l
Imagination and initiative
l
Creativity
l
Motivation and enthusiasm
l
Loyalty
l
Perseverance
l
Breadth of interests and curiosity
l
Intelligence
l
Cultural level
l
Scholarship and teaching ability
l
Common sense
l
Sense of humor
l
Candor and openness
l
Sense of values
l
Sensitivity for colleagues and community
l
Dependability
l
Patience
l
Sense of perspective
l
Maturity
l
Decisiveness
l
Overall standing among peers
Other
characteristics :
l
Tact
l
Reputation for fairness and respect for the opinions
and actions of others
l
Tolerance
l
Compassion
l
Putting up with petty annoyances
Natural
Gifts of Leadership
l
Intelligence
l
Common Sense
l
Creativity and Initiative
l
Charisma
Acquired
Qualities of Leadership
l
Compassion
l
Respect for Others
l
Integrity and honesty
l
Loyalty
l
Ability to instill Good Will
l
Commitment
l
Administrative Mind
l
Decisiveness
l
Courage
l
Patience and Tolerance
l
Wisdom
Learned
skills of Leadership and Administration
l
Ability to make decisions
l
Good communications
l
Command of Administrative techniques
l
Willingness to set the pace and example
l
Willingness to accept responsibility
l
Understanding how to motivate
l
Tact
l
Support of Staff
l
Maturity
l
Persuasiveness
l
Ability to innovate
l
Physical Fitness
l
Wit and sense of humor
Specific
Skills of an Effective Director
l
Educator
l
Fund-raising ability
l
Writing and Editing skills
l
High level of fitness
l
Knowledge of fitness and sports
Traits
to Avoid
l
Secretiveness
l
Aloofness
l
Insecurity in present position
l
Indecisiveness
l
Pomposity
l
Arrogance
l
Heaviness
Training
for Leadership
l
Not very effective
l
May be better to train for specific administrative
skills, and managerial effectivenss