Both leaders and managers in sports motivate the team to achieve the highest results, but they act in different ways. Leaders are involved in the activities of their team and tend to demonstrate the best sports qualities by personal example. Managers usually have a detailed team development plan and are less emotionally involved in the process. For leaders, process can often be more important than goals, while managers always strive for concrete results. One person can combine the qualities of a leader and a manager, and leaders and managers can effectively coexist together.
Definition of a Leader and a Manager, Difference Between Them
A leader is a person who helps the team demonstrate their professionalism using motivational techniques. The leader may use various approaches, but it is always an authority figure that the team members want to follow (Matosic et al., 2020). A manager is a more reliable person who also has authority, but uses other methods to achieve results (Nagel & Southall, 2015). Leaders are followed and inspired, while managers work practically with subordinates. In the modern sports industry, leaders are more involved in the team, and managers are more distant and follow clear rules for building work.
Qualities of a Leader in Sports
To become an effective leader in sports, one must have certain qualities and characteristics. The most important quality that is expected from a leader is communication skills, and the ability to establish contact with any member of the team (Gameplan, 2022). The leader should be emotionally involved and should have certain psychological knowledge to be able to resolve conflicts and take into account the interests of all team members (How good are your leadership skills? 2022). I have never led a sports team, but I think that I would be able to lead a team in the future. I choose the type of charismatic leader that people would follow. With the help of a personal example, I could motivate my team. However, this type of leadership must be reinforced by following the rules, as motivation alone may not be enough. I would stick to a clear plan for achieving results and strive for maximum contact with my team.
Coexistence of Leaders and Managers in the Modern Sports Industry
Leaders and managers can coexist effectively in today’s sport industry. Moreover, it is expected that leaders and managers will complement their working methods in order to achieve effective performance of their teams. An example is the French national football team, which took the second place at the last World Cup. The team leader is Hugo Lloris, who is also the goalkeeper. He expresses the collective spirit of the team and takes responsibility for a significant part of the game (Iyer & Ghiasi, 2022). The manager of the French team is Didier Deschamps, who is also the head coach. Trust is his main value; he truly believes in his team. At the same time, he is distant from the team, he puts himself in a leadership position, guided by his many years of experience. Due to the cooperation of leadership and management the team showed a brilliant game at the World Cup final and did not give up when the victory of the Argentine team seemed obvious.
Leader or Manager
I consider myself more of a leader, since the characteristics of this type of administration are closer to me. I prefer leading using a motivational approach and demonstrating a behavioral model to inspire my followers. The manager’s approach seems complicated to me, as a manager must obey a set of rules. Improvising and adjusting to the circumstances seems to me more adaptive in the modern sports world. In addition, I want to be emotionally close to my team and feel a part of it.
Personal Examples and Role Model
On my path to becoming a sports leader, I have identified a role model for myself. For me, that person is Derek Jeter, the leader of the Yankees. His record of victories speaks of the utmost dedication (Griffin, 2019). He treats sports with dignity in principle, making the game fair and just. Gregg Popovich, head coach of the US men’s basketball team, is an excellent manager. He won the Coach of the Year award three times and is rightfully considered one of the best sports tacticians (Ewing, 2019). Focusing on these great people allows me to adopt such qualities as dignity, team trust and planning.
Conclusion
Both leaders and managers in today’s sports industry are essential to effective team performance. Managers may direct the team to follow a clear plan, while leaders tend to improvise and motivate the team by example. Who will lead the team more effectively depends on the goals of the team and their cohesion. Both the leader and the manager can work together because they have a common goal: to bring the team to victory. The chosen methods may differ; however, a competent administrator, whether being a leader or a manager, will work for the benefit of the team.
References
Ewing, T. K. (2019). Rethinking head coach credentials: Playing experience, tertiary qualifications and coaching apprenticeships. International Sport Coaching Journal, 6(2), 244-249. Web.
Griffin, J. (2019). The New York Yankees all-time all-stars: The best players at each position for the Bronx Bombers. Rowman & Littlefield.
Iyer, A., & Ghiasi, S. (2022). Using the PageRank algorithm to rank football players in a game. Journal of Student Research, 11(3), 1-10. Web.
Matosic, D., Ntoumanis, N., Boardley, I. D., & Sedikides, C. (2020). Narcissism, beliefs about controlling interpersonal style, and moral disengagement in sport coaches. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(5), 592-606. Web.
How good are your leadership skills? (2022). Web.
Nagel, M., & Southall, R. (2015). Introduction to sport management: Theory and practice, 2nd edition. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
Gameplan. (2022). Web.