We are marshall tells the story of the West Virginia Marshall University football team, which suffered a plane crash in which all team members died
The goal of this article is to help you understand what leadership is. It will begin by defining what a leader is and explaining why leadership is necessary and important.
Next we will analyze the leadership behavior of the protagonist of the film “Equipo Marshall” (Spain), “Somos Marshall” (Argentina) or “We are Marshall” (USA and rest of the world).
Article index
In 1970 the American football team at Marshall University in West Virginia suffered a plane crash in which all the team members died; 37 players, 8 coaches, University staff, aircrew, and 25 citizens.
The character played by Matthew McConaughey (Jack Lengyel) is an outsider who, after the accident, occupies the position of coach helping to restructure the team with optimism, hope and in general with a democratic leadership style..
To better understand what this style consists of, we are going to name each of the interactions that the coach establishes with his technical team and his players, referring to the adjectives that define the coach's personality..
1-When the team director comes to interview in his own home, the coach shows that he does not want to train out of self-interest, but because he believes that he can help and move the team forward.
2-At the press conference to introduce the team as coach (38:20), faced with the compromising questions from a journalist “what are the expectations for this season? and “What would you say to citizens who think that re-forming the team is disrespectful? He does not lose his temper, is confident and shows that he can be trusted in difficult situations.
3-Non-verbal language (relaxed posture, smooth movements of the hands with the palms up, gaze into 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, spirited and makes the players understand that he trusts them.
He never focuses on negative aspects such as having only three players left alive, but on learning the names and reminding them that he will not abandon them in the new sports course.
He also shows qualities like sociability and kindness; invites you to his house for dinner.
It takes into account the whole group and does not show favoritism; He tells the three players that he will learn their names It is important that you learn the names of his players to become familiar and know them better.
This is repeated in a later scene, in which in a training session he asks the whole team to come the next day with their name on their helmet..
5-At minute 40:47, he asks the team director who asks the NCAA to make an exception, letting them play with the first-year students, but he does not do it in a direct way but by explaining the anecdote that he always there is a first time, like when he had to change his son's diapers.
6-He does the same when he tries to convince the former assistant coach to return to the team to continue with his task; makes the comment that the train that just passed in front of them derailed a while ago and is still on its way.
He says goodbye reminding him that his doors are 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 downcast, sad and discouraged attitude, the coach smiles and says "if it is all the time we have, we will have to start now", showing marked optimism supported with a handshake that reminds you that you are welcome.
8-Minute 52:50. When the director gives him the news that he is not being granted permission to play with the freshmen, the coach remembers that there is no time left and encourages him to continue with his purpose by persuading him to come personally to speak with 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 her to marry you over the phone? When the first-year players are finally allowed to compete, he cheers and enthusiastically congratulates the director.
The same firm and gentle attitude shows when he asks for and orders activities and exercises from his players.
9-After some training, he decides that the Y-training tactic that they are using does not work and he gathers his technical team to ask their opinion on what they can do to make the team work properly (democratic).
They make the decision to try the VIER formation and go to ask a rival team for information about it, a difficult situation that they take with optimism and confidence..
This behavior also shows an important quality; the foresight that allows you to avoid a possible failure with a formation that was not working.
Here you employ a consultative influence tactic: ask for participation and consider the ideas and suggestions of your coworkers..
10-In the first game you know which players have experience and to whom you can leave responsibility (Nate Ruffin) to carry out important tasks; in this case, motivate the team and guide them to the field of play: “everyone on their feet, it's 60 minutes and we play until the whistle blows…” (1:11:45).
From the point of view of the 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 group members.
For this situation, the coach acts effectively by delegating responsibility to a self-sufficient member..
11-It is important to review the difference in qualities between the first coach and the second.
The former is optimistic, trusts others, is supportive, confident, and courageous. The second is the opposite; He is not confident, he is pessimistic, downcast and not supportive of his players (except in the end when the head coach asks him to).
12- (1:39:00). The speech you give before the game to a difficult team helps to motivate the team and increase their self-esteem, it also demonstrates a catalytic quality that encourages the group to feel united and act together..
The words "leader and leadership" make an unequivocal allusion to someone who is and / or behaves in an outstanding and outstanding way, always leading a group of people.
Organizational leadership can be understood as the situation of superiority in which some people find themselves in their respective organizations since, due to their notable personal qualities and / or actions, they get the teams they lead to lead in the fulfillment of organizational purposes.
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 for business organizations, where it has been identified simply with the occupation of a managerial position-usually the position of a supervisor-; at the same time that the effectiveness of the leaders has been judged by criteria that only reflect the interests of the top management of the companies.
Effective leaders influence followers to think not in their own interests, but in the organization's.
Leadership occurs when followers accept the influence of someone who motivates them to do things in an ethical and beneficial way for them 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 a result that both the leader and the followers want that motivates them to achieve it.
Leaders direct and, with input from followers, set challenging goals, leading to higher levels of performance.
In their studies, Kurt Lewin and his collaborators at the University of Iowa, analyzed three behaviors or styles of leaders: the autocratic, the democratic and the laissez-faire.
Yet No Comments