Leader: Coach Ken Carter

Transformational Leadership

'The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Average is just not good enough period' 
(Coach Carter, 2005)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY75MQte4RU) 

Coach Ken Carter is an example of a transformation leader. When Coach Carter took on the role of coaching the team the players had forgotten about their education and focused upon winning. However, Coach Carter does not approve of this and takes immediate action by getting each member of the team to accept and sign a written contract. He aims to motivate the players by no longer allowing them to play basketball until their grades have improved.

Coach Carter aims to engage the players to achieve beyond their self-interest through seeking to win the players trust, admiration and loyalty so that they are emotionally as well as rationally inclined to do more than they originally expected to do (Hartley & Benington, 2010). 

As a transformation leader he is effective in inspiring them to improve academically in order to continue playing basketball and compete in competitions. Coach Caters method is effective as the players adhere to this method as he has inspired them to succeed in playing sport and in their education. As the film progresses the team begin to look up to their coach as a role model and believe in him. A role model is an individual whose behaviour, example or success is or can be emulated by others, especially younger people (Shapiro, Haseltine & Rowe, 1978). 

Coach Carter is an effective transformational leader as he changes the player’s lives for the positive and enables each individual to acknowledge the right choices they needed for their own personal goals. He is effective in achieving this by putting the players before himself, and is creative in identifying ways to impact the team’s behaviour whilst on and off the basketball court. Coach Carter is interactive with his teammates and listens to what they are saying and hopes his message comes off. He has a vision for the players by making them realise that there is more to basketball than just winning. He is helping the individuals to transform their lives in several aspects without acknowledging it at the time. 

According to (Marquis & Huston, 1992) there are five key qualities of a positive role model and transformational leader. 

(Marquis & Huston, 1992)

1.    Passion and Ability to Inspire

Transformational leaders show passion in their work and have the capacity to pass this passion on to others. 

Coach Carter is successful in achieving this through setting clear expectations and demonstrates passion when doing this. At their first team meeting, Carter hands each student a contract, setting out his expectations of the contracts. If they do not sign, they don’t play. Coach Carter aims to pass on his passion to the players enabling them to succeed in playing sports and succeed in their education.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1wAemvxNaM)

2.    Clear Set of Values

Transformational role models pass their values on to others. According to (Marquis & Huston, 1992) people admire leaders that support their own values and beliefs by enabling others to understand how their own values make them who they are.

Coach Carter encourages a team ethic throughout. ‘There’s a popular management saying that there’s no ‘I’ in team’ (Brounstein, 2009). Carter ensures his team take this on board by stopping everyone from playing – academic achiever or not. He’s teaching that successful teams succeed because of the team working as a unit rather their their individual performance; you’re only as good as your weakest link, and successful teams work for each other (Brounstein, 2009).

Coach Carter achieves this aim by promoting a vision of change and seeing this through resistance. Carter’s strengths of his own beliefs draw people in, winning respect and their loyalty.

As a leader, you will face situations where everyone else is putting themselves against you. In order to be an effective leader you must stand up for you values and what you believe in.  

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_fDhqRk_Ro)

3.    Commitment to the Community

Transformational leaders focus upon others as opposed to focuses on themselves (Bass & Riggio, 2008). This leadership style is often involved in activities within the community in order to benefit others. Occasionally these changes may be long term and hard work to achieve, however through commitment and encouragement they are possible.

Coach Carter thinks long term and looks to the future. Mr Carter knew that for basketball to continue to be a part of the players’ lives, they had to improve other aspects of their lives, their academic results. He saw the need for the players to balance their commitments between basketball and education to progress to the next stages in their lives. Never the less Carter is an effective leader as although he continued to face opposition from the community he rises above this and continues to strive for what he aimed to achieve.

4.    Selflessness and Acceptance of Others

Transformation leaders show commitment to what they aim to achieve and admire people for their selflessness. Transformation leaders are accepting of others who are different and encourage involvement from all individuals.  

As an effective transformational leader you have to have difficult conversations. When his team members fail to honour their contracts, Coach Ken Carter  isn’t afraid to take action. Although his team are now winning, Carter stops the team playing until every student’s grades meets the minimum standards. Gathering his team for a ‘clear the air’ discussion, Carter is an effective transformational leader as he spends time to  listen to how the team are feeling and explains his reasons for the consequences. He then encourages them to aim higher in their lives, and challenges them to work harder for a better life.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FKPDOpKzDo)

5.    Ability to Overcome Obstacles

Transformational leaders believe that individuals admire people who show them that successful goals are possible regardless of the obstacles that they may face during the process. Often people will not agree to some of the leader’s values however, they must stand by what they believe in order to achieve a positive change.

People are naturally resistant to change. When Carter first steps in as the new basketball coach and implements changes in the training style, he is met with a lot of resistance by the players. However he is an effective leader as he goes against the teams resistance.When you make changes to the status quo, expect the same kind of emotions and resistance by those with you (Breshears & Volker, 2013).

Coach Carter changes the player’s lives and makes them realise that there was more to life than they thought. Empowerment is also a characteristic of transformational leadership and Coach Carter empowered these basketball players that came to him as boys and parted ways with him as men.

Coach Cater is effective as he continues to motivate the team to rather than give up. He encourages actions to be evaluated to solve the issues step by step and that success is a process and not an immediate action. 

Coach White : Unsuccessful leadership 

'Leadership is action, not position'
 (McGannon, 2008). 

'Poor organizational performance can be traced back to dysfunctional leadership' (Czaja, 1999).
The previous basketball coach, Coach White, was an ineffective leader and therefore the team called upon Coach Carter to improve their results.

There are many reasons why leaders are ineffective. Coach White was an ineffective leader for the following reasons: 

 Having tunnel vision

      Coach White portrayed tunnel vision by only focusing upon the sports aspect of the players lives and paying no regard to their education. Therefore the team were not succeeding in their education. Coach carter disagreed with this and felt as an effective leader he must promote success throughout all aspects of the player’s lives.

  Being rules oriented and not people oriented 

      Coach White was very ‘task’ focused and focused upon succeeding regardless of the impact it was having upon the teams education and did not show willingness to discuss with the team any concerns or discuss how they could improve. He did not portray a relationship with the team. Coach Carter on the other hand gets to know the team as individuals before focusing upon the success. He motivates the team through his values and showing willingness to listen to the team. 

 Having Fear and doubts regarding the teams competence

      Coach White feared failure at the championships and as a result exhorted a huge amount of pressure on the team. However, Coach Carter is an effective leader as he does not pressurise the team to focus on winning however his characteristics motivate the team to want to succeed and feel that they are doing it themselves.

 Not willing or not able to change and adopt/ learn and grow

Coach White, unlike coach Carter was not willing to adopt new changes to the team and go against the resistance therefore creates a poor leadership style in not achieving goals/ aims. 

A key criticism is that within it transformational leadership has potential for the abuse of power (Hall, Johnson, Wysocki & Kepner, 2002). Transformational leaders can exert a very powerful influence over followers, who offer them trust and respect. Some leaders may have narcissistic tendencies, thriving on power and manipulation. Moreover, some followers may have dependent characters and form strong and unfortunate bonds with their leaders (Stone, Russell and Patterson, 2003, p: 4).