Analyzing Leadership: Jim Boeheim - Assignment Example

Analyzing Leadership – Jim Boeheim Analyzing Leadership – Jim Boeheim Introduction Importance ofleadership in the field of sports cannot be denied as it has a great influence on the behavior of the team members. From team captains, to managers, and coaches everyone in the sports field have to have genuine leadership qualities along with true inspirations. It should be noted that, it is because of such leaders of the sports industry that crafts such great sportsman; therefore, the leadership skills and captaincy should never be underestimated. There are many great leaders that have served the sports world. This paper aims to highlight the leadership skills, approach, goal theory, role, and motivation of the famous basketball head coach Jim Boeheim. Background Born in 1944, James Arthur Boeheim or famously known as Jim Boeheim is currently serving the men’s basketball team at the Syracuse University as the Head Coach (Waters, 2013). Having a huge experience in the field of sports and leadership, Boeheim has made the Orange team of the Syracuse University into the NCAA Tournament 30 times. Boeheim also guided the team for final four match appearances in 1987, 1996, 2003, and 2013 and the NCAA championship in 2003 (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). Not only this, he has also guided the Syracuse men’s basketball team to nine ‘Big East’ regular season championships and five Big East Tournament Championships. Because of his strong coaching experience and his effective leadership skills, Boeheim is currently the second on the Wins List of Men’s NCAA Division I Coaches (Pitoniak, 2011). The 880th win of Boeheim was earned in 2012, surpassing the total of Dean Smith’s wins of 879. These wins are calculated for a head coach at a single school for his most wins (Baker, 2010). Boeheim has also served the United States men’s basketball team, during the World Championship of FIBA 1990, FIBA 2006, Summer Olympics in 2008, FIBA World Championship 2010, and the Summer Olympics of 2012 (Baker, 2010). He has also served as the chairman of the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Committee during the period 2009 to 2012. He has the honor of being President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). In September 2005, in recognition to his remarkable achievements Boeheim was included in the Basketball Hall of Fame in the field of basketball (Pitoniak, 2011). Leadership Jim Boeheim has guided the Orange team through various tournaments, both national and international and has brought home many titles (Pitoniak, 2011). It is because of his strong leadership skills and capabilities that the Orange team of the Syracuse University is doing so well in Basketball and have been able to give a tough time to its competitors (McGrawHill, 2004). Every team leaders like Boeheim to leave a mark like 30-10 (2012-12 NCAA Tournament). Boeheim has a different style of leading and guiding his team. The style is termed unusual as not many leaders3 and coaches follow this style (Pitoniak, 2011). Other successful coaches have always trained the team in the manner of ‘man to man defense’; however, the case of Boeheim is a bit different. He prefers to go for the 2-3-zone defense (Baker, 2010). From a leadership point, Boeheim never rushes to any judgment and rarely react to any scenario, instead he responds (Pitoniak, 2011). This means that he quietly observes the situation, his opponents without reacting to what is going on, and then he responds with his effective strategic skills (Waters, 2013). This illustrates his strong situational approach leadership qualities. That he examines, considers, and addresses all the situations at hands and that too, effectively (Baker, 2010). Very few leaders have a tendency and potential to do so. Boeheim has been observed at many instances to practice the situational approach leadership during his matches (Pitoniak, 2011). Studies have shown that such style of leadership allows the team members to enhance their potential, and having a positive impact on the consequences. The members feel emotionally and mentally strong and balanced (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). Secondly, his strong leadership style also includes effective and sound recruitment process. Boeheim always recruits those individuals who are excellent and tireless and extraordinary in basketball (Baker, 2010). They never give up continue to run after his goal, the goal of the team and the college without tiredness. For this purpose, only young and talented men are recruited for the system. He has always contributed his efforts and is always available for former players and coaches so that it can shape the overall form and can show his loyalty towards the sport. It is considered to be one major qualities of a leader, that he is loyal to his profession (Pitoniak, 2011). He has always been friendly with all the kids that play basketball as the child-like exuberance is still present inside him and he want to be effective while teaching others (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). For this reason, he thinks of himself as the guardian of basketball and share the love with his team members while teaching and talking about the game (Waters, 2013). He has watched more than hundreds of films and tutorials on basketball and now he is so much experienced and qualified that his knowledge can not be reached (Waters, 2013). Boeheim is not a big follower of path goal theory of leadership as his goal is simple to guide the Orange team through tough times and to achieve the victories (Waters, 2013). However, he does not allow his team members to handle the situation lightly and thus have trained them in such a way that they are all goal oriented (Pitoniak, 2011) (Baker, 2010). Their motivation is already so high and they are already so driven that they does not need empowerment or satisfaction until and unless they become the winners (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). Boeheim has always wanted to win and has made it possible several times through his strong leadership skills. He has been a good team member from his college freshman days. His team leadership skills were tested and approved when he was in his final year of the college and were appointed as the captain of the team (Pitoniak, 2011). This was because of his strong team leading skills. A good team always respects other teams and respect members within its own team (McGrawHill, 2004). This boost morale and emotional attachment of the team players, thus increasing the motivation among them. Boeheim has always been aware of this fact and has utilized it as one of the key players towards his success (Waters, 2013). Boeheim knows exactly how to take every team member along and how to train them keeping their weaknesses in mind (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). This is the reason, why he prefers the 2-3 zone defense technique during training while other prefers the usual one on one training sessions. He is friendly with his entire team; he knows what his team members are capable of and what they are not (Waters, 2013). He tries to diminish the weaknesses through extensive training and strong teamwork (Waters, 2013). He believes in strong teamwork and has always recruited members who also think the same. It is important to have members who are strong team players and can have each other’s back at difficult times (Baker, 2010). It should be noted that a leader is not someone who just guide and trains the team, he is an eye and ear of the team. They also have same inspirations as that of the team (Waters, 2013). This is one major reason Jim Boeheim is a successful leader, because he also shares a basketball background and has been an active player during and after his college days (Pitoniak, 2011). Role and Motivation The role of leaders is not limited to coaching and training the team members. Jim Boeheim has always supported his team members at every interval and every moment regardless of it being a victory or a loss. A good leader never loses hope and never gives up on his team (Baker, 2010). Orange is Boeheim’s main source of motivation. From his college days, he always wanted it to win. Being a graduate of Syracuse and a captain of the Orange team during his final year, Boeheim is highly motivated and is always driven towards success of Orange (Pitoniak, 2011). His motivation and his friendly nature have never made him irresponsible towards his duties as a leader of the Orange. His role as a leader also includes serious responsibilities, of which he is completely aware. He is not only himself motivated but keeps on motivating his team members (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). For this purpose, he never uses the word ‘I’ and instead always prefers using ‘We’ as it depicts teamwork and increase motivation and morale of the players (Baker, 2010; Pitoniak, 2011). Events Under the leadership of Jim Boeheim, the Orange team has won major titles, national and international. As it has been aforementioned, Boeheim has guided the team through various championships. Boeheim was able to guide the Organe to attain a 30-5 overall record during the NCAA ‘Sweet 16’ the Big East Conference In 2009-10 (McGrawHill, 2004). It was because of his leadership that Syracuse’s Orange team was able to make in the top five all seasons and ended the year in the NCAA ‘Elite Eight’ (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). In 2012 and 13 Boeheim again brought Orange in the national rankings (Pitoniak, 2011). His leadership qualities can be assessed as he was honored with a tribute in 2005 by being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). He received many awards for his coaching and leadership qualities, such as ‘Legends of Coaching’ Awards, ‘Spirit of Jimmy V’ and other awards by the Associated Press and United States Basketball Writers Associations (USBWA) (SyracuseUniveristy, 2014). Conclusion Jim Boeheim has currently 900 wins and is placed at second position of all times coaches to reach victories in a single college. From his college days at Syracuse, Boeheim has always shown strong leadership skills and interest in basketball. His teamwork and dedication towards the sports made him what he is today. He is a leader of the great set of qualities and knowledge. He applies a variety of effective strategies and approaches and is extremely humble with his team, which has allowed him, and the Orange team to achieve numerous victories in notable championships. He has guided not only the Orange team but also many other Men’s basketball teams in various international basketball tournaments. He has been awarded various awards and got the privilege of being inducted into into the basketball hall of fame in 2005. Jim Boeheim is truly a man of strong leadership skills. References Baker, M. A. (2010). Basketball history in Syracuse: hoops roots. Charleston: History Press. McGrawHill. (2004). Sports leaders & success: 55 top sports leaders & how they achieve greatness. New York: McGraw-Hill. Pitoniak, S. (2011). Color Him Orange : the Jim Boeheim Story. Chicago: Triumph Books,. SyracuseUniveristy. (2014). Jim Boeheim. Retrieved from cuse.com: http://cuse.com/staff.aspx?staff=15 Waters, M. (2013). Legends of Syracuse Basketball. 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