Leadership

The Versatile Leader – Part 2

By Ron Pereira Updated on August 19th, 2009

“That’s what I do now: I lead and I teach. If we win basketball games from doing that, then that’s great, but I lead and teach. Those are the two things I concentrate on.” -Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University

In part 1 of this series we learned about the directing style of leadership. Feel free to check that article out before reading this one.

The Coaching Leadership Style

In this article we’re going to introduce another leadership style – coaching.

The coaching leadership style is best described as one where the leader openly listens to and shows interest in the ideas of others in an energetic and passionate manner.

Additionally, the coaching leader also provides regular feedback and constantly monitors the performance of the person and/or team.

Coach K

I am huge Mike Krzyzewski fan. For those that don’t know… Krzyzewski is head coach of the Duke University basketball team.

The thing I’ve always admired about him is how he is constantly encouraging his players while also teaching and demanding nothing but the best of them.

That, in a nutshell is what this leadership style is all about.

A Word of Caution

For some, coaching comes naturally which can, believe it or not, get you into a jam if you’re not careful.

You see those who get “too engaged” in the coaching leadership style often get far too involved and might end up doing the job, or worse yet, the “thinking” for the person or people they are coaching.

So, keep this mind, the next time you set off to coach someone. Your job is teach, involve, and mentor… your job is not to do it for them.

Your Homework Today

You homework today is simple. I’d like you to read as many of these Coach K quotes as possible. I find them truly inspiring.

Coach K or Bob Knight?

Here’s a question for those of you into American college basketball.  Which coach would you want your son to play for – Mike Krzyzewski or Bob Knight?  Why?


  1. Tim Stewart

    August 22, 2009 - 9:55 am
    Reply

    Coach K although I believe Bobby Knight was a mentor to Coach K. Even still, while he is a good coach, Bobby Knight’s terrible attitude and approach make me sick.

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