Team Marshall will be the history of the football team of Marshall University of West Virginia, who suffered an airplane crash in which all team members died
The purpose of this article is to help you understand what it is the leadership . It will begin by defining what a leader is and explain why leadership is necessary and important.
Next we will analyze the leadership behavior of the protagonist of the film "Marshall Team"(Spain),"Somos Marshall"(Argentina) or"We are Marshall"(USA and rest of the world) .
Why is leadership important?
- It becomes more important in crisis situations.
- It is recognized that well-run organizations have high levels of performance, something that poorly run organizations lack.
- The main reason people give up business is that their bosses do not treat them well. Those who stay in work working with bad bosses feel less satisfied with their work and their lives, feel less committed to the company and have more conflicts at work and family; As a result they experience psychological distress.
The words"leader and leadership"unambiguously allude to someone who is and / or behaves in a prominent and outstanding way, always leading a group of people.
Organizational leadership can be understood as the situation of superiority in which some people are in their respective organizations because, because of their remarkable personal qualities and / or actions, they achieve that the teams they lead lead the way in fulfilling organizational goals .
In organizational scientific research, leadership has traditionally had three different meanings, which have been: the attribute of a position, the characteristics of a person and a category of behavior.
At present organizational leadership is reserved to business organizations, where it has simply been identified with the occupation of a managerial position - usually the position of a supervisor; At the same time that the effectiveness of the leaders is judged by criteria that reflect only the interests of the top management of the companies.
The Effective leaders Influence the followers so that they do not think in terms of their own interests, but in those of the organization.
Leadership occurs when followers accept the influence of someone who motivates them to do things ethically and beneficial to themselves and the organization.
Taking advantage of subordinates for personal gain is not part of leadership. The members of the organization need to work together, oriented towards an outcome that both the leader and the followers desire that motivates them to reach it.
The leaders Lead and, with the input of followers, set objectives that pose challenges, which leads to higher levels of performance.
Are there identifiable leadership behaviors?
In their studies, Kurt Lewin and his colleagues at the University of Iowa analyzed three behaviors or styles of leaders: the autocratic, the democratic, and the laissez-faire.
- He Autocratic style Corresponds to the leader who usually centralizes his authority, to dictate working methods, to make decisions unilaterally and to limit the participation of the employees.
- The laissez-faire leader leaves his employees totally free to make decisions and do their work as they see fit, simply provides materials and answers questions.
- The democratic leader is the one who takes into account the opinion of the rest of the team, but also respects his authority.
Film analysis
In 1970 the American football team of Marshall University of the West Virginia, suffered an airplane accident in which all the members of the equipment died; 37 players, 8 coaches, University staff, airplane crew, and 25 citizens.
The character incarnated by Matthew McConaughey (Jack Lengyel) is an outsider who after the accident, occupies the position of coach helping to the restructuring of the team with optimism, hope and in general with a style of democratic leadership.
To better understand what this style consists of, we will name each of the interactions that the coach establishes with his technical team and his players, referring to the adjectives that define the personality of the coach.
1-When the team leader comes to interview in his own house, the coach shows that he does not want to train for self-interest, but because he believes he can help and get the team forward.
2-In the press conference of presentation as coach of the team (38:20), before the committed questions of a journalist"what are the expectations for this season? And"what would you say to citizens who think that re-forming the team is a lack of respect? Does not lose their calm, is safe and shows that they can be trusted in difficult situations.
3- Non-verbal language (Relaxed posture, gentle movements of the hands with the palms facing upwards, looking at the eyes but not fixed, a lot of body contact) indicates sincerity and closeness.
4-In the presentation of the coach to the 3 players who survived the accident (40:27), the coach is optimistic, encouraging and makes them understand the players who trust them.
Never focus on negative aspects such as the fact that there are only three players left alive, if not in learning the names and reminding them that they will not abandon them in the new sports course.
It also shows qualities such as sociability and kindness; Invites them to his house for dinner.
It takes into account the whole group and does not show favoritism; He tells the three players to learn their names. It is important that you learn the names of your players to become more familiar and better acquainted with them.
This is repeated in a later scene, in which in a workout asks the whole team that the next day come with the name on the helmet.
5-At 40:47, he asks the team manager to ask the NCAA to make an exception, letting them play with first-year students, but he does not do it directly if he does not explain the anecdote that he always There is a first time, like when he had to change his son's diapers.
6-The same does when he tries to convince the former coach to return to the team to continue with his mission; Makes the comment that the train that just passed in front of them derails some time ago and still continues with its route.
He says goodbye reminding him that he has the doors open and that he will take into account his sports advice (trust in others).
7-When the 2nd coach comes to his office to tell him that he can give him a year with a fallen, sad and discouraged attitude, the coach smiles and says"if it's all the time we have, we'll have to start now", showing A marked optimism Supported with a handshake that reminds him that he is well received.
8-minute 52:50. When the principal announces that he is not allowed to play with freshmen, the coach recalls that there is no time left and encourages him to continue with his purpose by persuading him to go personally to speak to the directors of the NCAA.
However, this tactic of influence is not by pressure, legitimation or coalition but a rational persuasion, do you have a wife? Would you ask him to marry you on the phone? When they finally authorize the first-year players to compete cheerfully and enthusiastically congratulate the director.
The same firm and soft attitude shows when it asks and orders activities and exercises to its players.
9-After some training you decide that the Y-training tactic you are using does not work and brings your technical team together to ask them what they can do to make the team work properly (democratic).
They make the decision to try out the VIER training and go to ask for information about it to a rival team, difficult situation that nevertheless takes with optimism and security.
This behavior also shows an important quality; The foresight that allows him to avoid a possible failure with a training that was not working.
Here he uses a tactic of consultation influence: he asks for participation and considers the ideas and suggestions of his colleagues.
10-In the first match you know which players have experience and who can leave responsibility (Nate Ruffin) to perform important tasks; In this case, motivate the team and guide them to the field of play:"everyone is up, it's 60 minutes and we play until the whistle blows..."(1:11:45).
From the standpoint of Situational Leadership Theory of Hersey and Blanchard, the best leader is the one who knows how to adapt his style to the level of maturity of the members of the group.
For this situation, the coach acts effectively by delegating responsibility to a self-sustaining member.
11-It is important to note the difference of qualities between the first coach and the second.
The first is optimistic, trusting the others, gives support, is safe and lively. The second is quite the opposite; Has no safety, is pessimistic, down and not to his players (except in the end when the first coach asks).
12- (1:39:00). His pre-game speech to a difficult team helps motivate the team and increase their self-esteem, and also demonstrates a catalytic quality that drives the group to feel united and act together.