Leadership Needed: Be A Leader.
The last few weeks I have really began to internalize and recognize illustrations of many of the leadership concepts that I we have been studying this semester. In the past, I have read many books on leadership, but this semester I have made the leap to understanding. Earlier in the week, I viewed a taping of an interview with the Head Basketball Coach at Texas Tech, Bobby Knight. Knight and NBA legend Isaiah Thomas was being interviewed by Stephen A. Smith on his ESPN show “Quite Frankly”.
During the interview, Knight repeatedly gave examples of how he worked to instill character in the young men that he had coached during his tenure at Indiana University. The respect and admiration that Mr. Thomas has for Coach Knight was obvious. He spoke about how much he had learned from his former coach and how you can measure the coach’s success by observing how any of his former players conduct themselves and by the success they are having away from the basketball court.
At the end of the interview, Knight admonished that America is facing a leadership crisis. He stated that discipline and character are missing from our young people today and that leaders and role models must step forward to provide much needed leadership. This statement made an impression on me. I usually think of leaders from the standpoint of business and success. The interview helps me to view leadership from a more traditional standpoint. There is no bottom line of profit, the leader is simply leading.
This week I also watched a taped version of one of my favorite shows, The Tavis Smiley show on PBS. Tavis was airing a tribute to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Montgomery boycott is considered by many to be the spark of the civil rights movement, and the incident that catapulted Dr. Martin Luther King onto the American landscape. It was very profound show. Tavis interviewed the current mayor of Montgomery as well as two of the most well known civil rights leaders of sixties John Lewis and Reverend Joseph Lowery. As the discussion ensued, the idea of leadership once again emerged. Reverend Lowery made the point that America is missing leaders with character and morality at the highest levels. America is desperate for moral leadership he repeatedly stated.
All of this started me to thinking about what I have been learning in my leadership class. I specifically began to think about problems that have had in the past as it relates to many of the lessons I have read about in Stephen Covey’s latest work, “The 8th Habit. Many times in the past when problems caused by poor leadership arose during my tenure at a company usually my response has been to simply leave the company. While I started thinking about this, I recognized I have done this many times. It never occurred to me that these were opportunities for me to step up and become a leader. I could have solved the problems by being a leader. By doing what Mr. Covey suggests and being a “trim-tabor” and leading in my sphere of influence.
Currently I am experiencing the same kind of problems in my current position as a technical instructor. And I have reverted back to some of my old ways of handling such problems. Upon reflection, I have decided to lead my way out of the situation. I have decided to look at the problem as an opportunity to lead. So, that is what I intend to do. Only time will tell If I am successful or not. Nevertheless, I am very excited about trying something knew. And if my leadership is a success I will have made a much greater impact in the organization than I could have ever imagined.
Learning about Leadership,
Kai Dupe
During the interview, Knight repeatedly gave examples of how he worked to instill character in the young men that he had coached during his tenure at Indiana University. The respect and admiration that Mr. Thomas has for Coach Knight was obvious. He spoke about how much he had learned from his former coach and how you can measure the coach’s success by observing how any of his former players conduct themselves and by the success they are having away from the basketball court.
At the end of the interview, Knight admonished that America is facing a leadership crisis. He stated that discipline and character are missing from our young people today and that leaders and role models must step forward to provide much needed leadership. This statement made an impression on me. I usually think of leaders from the standpoint of business and success. The interview helps me to view leadership from a more traditional standpoint. There is no bottom line of profit, the leader is simply leading.
This week I also watched a taped version of one of my favorite shows, The Tavis Smiley show on PBS. Tavis was airing a tribute to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Montgomery boycott is considered by many to be the spark of the civil rights movement, and the incident that catapulted Dr. Martin Luther King onto the American landscape. It was very profound show. Tavis interviewed the current mayor of Montgomery as well as two of the most well known civil rights leaders of sixties John Lewis and Reverend Joseph Lowery. As the discussion ensued, the idea of leadership once again emerged. Reverend Lowery made the point that America is missing leaders with character and morality at the highest levels. America is desperate for moral leadership he repeatedly stated.
All of this started me to thinking about what I have been learning in my leadership class. I specifically began to think about problems that have had in the past as it relates to many of the lessons I have read about in Stephen Covey’s latest work, “The 8th Habit. Many times in the past when problems caused by poor leadership arose during my tenure at a company usually my response has been to simply leave the company. While I started thinking about this, I recognized I have done this many times. It never occurred to me that these were opportunities for me to step up and become a leader. I could have solved the problems by being a leader. By doing what Mr. Covey suggests and being a “trim-tabor” and leading in my sphere of influence.
Currently I am experiencing the same kind of problems in my current position as a technical instructor. And I have reverted back to some of my old ways of handling such problems. Upon reflection, I have decided to lead my way out of the situation. I have decided to look at the problem as an opportunity to lead. So, that is what I intend to do. Only time will tell If I am successful or not. Nevertheless, I am very excited about trying something knew. And if my leadership is a success I will have made a much greater impact in the organization than I could have ever imagined.
Learning about Leadership,
Kai Dupe
posted by Kai Ajala Dupé | 11:09 AM
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