soccer cycle

A day of soccer is so much more than a game; it consists of players, coaches, referees and fans. Each person has a vital role in the game; there is more than a star player that helps to push a team to succeed. Being a team leader can be on the field or in the stands, but it is important to note that "team leadership is not an abdication of responsibility. It is a shared responsibility." (167) On a team and in the business world, it is necessary for the leader to participate in the proposed task in order to encourage the entire team. Like a coach in soccer showing the players how to pass or encouraging them with each goal and or failure to try again. Jarred and Ali did n amazing job last Monday at taking the sport that they loved and carefully teaching, showing and encouraging the class. This was a great way to lead and to teach, and would work well with outside the world of soccer as well.

Although the term "marshmallow manager" sounds catchy it can be a dangerous thing to become. In the book "Leading Self-Directed Work Teams," a marshmallow leader is "a supervisor who acts sticky and sweet; yet they seldom take a stand under pressure and the change their opinion easily to whatever is popular and noncontroversial." This is what needs to be avoided in team leadership, a leader, like Ali and Jarred did, should make a decision as to how the game of soccer should be taught and played and then not change their mind about rules and logistics. When Angela and I had the opportunity to lead, I am afraid that we did not give a clear enough explanation of the rules, which did cause controversy; it is also good to know and lay out all of the rules before the game is played independently by the team.

An important visual in leading self-directed teams is called "The Cycle of SDWT Maturity," there are five terms that this cycle includes, investigation, preparation, implementation, transition, maturation. Each stage was executed when we played soccer last week. The first stage, investigation, is about understanding; our leaders explained the game, the rules and the history so that we could better comprehend the purpose of the sport. Same as if one was designing an ad campaign, it’s important to fully understand the product. Next is preparation, this is about acceptance, asking the question "do you trust me?" Being able to take everyone onto the field or the project fully committed. Implementation involves making it work, once the leader has the trust of the team, they can begin the project or hope to succeed on the field. It will not be easy to keep the team motivated, this is the transition stage, helping o provide the team with motivation and the appropriate skills to succeed. Last stage in the cycle is the Maturation challenges, "it is easy to rest after people make it through the transition stage...unfortunately in todays competitive and turbulent environment, to rest may mean to become stagnant and uncompetitive." So what is the solution? I guess that is what this class is about, figuring out how to lead fully but also reserve energy to keep an activity in full swing at all times.

Kick the square

Last week in Teams class, Angela and I had the opportunity to lead the class in foursquare, extreme foursquare, Kickball, and partner Kickball. Together we were hoping to incorporate ourselves as “role models to followers and serving as a guide and teacher” (pg. 42) hoping that it would encourage the others to participate with the same level excitement that we had. Also, I think both of us realized that it is important to participate in hat ever activity that we asked the others to do, this is all about leading by example and I really think you have a higher level respect from your followers if you can do this.

“Trust and communication are two of the biggest hurdles that many managers face when trying to establish positive relationships with their workers.” (pg. 59) I think that one of the problems that we had on Monday was a lack of agreement between Angela and I, there were times when we would contradict each other, which ultimately confused the people in the class. But, we worked through the confusion and were able to still have a fun time.

When we were playing our games, one of our ideas was to have them play alone, and to also play in pairs. It showed that sometimes even when it is harder to communicate; working together can be more beneficial. In foursquare, having a partner was complicated at first, but as the game went on, having an extra eye and pair of hands helped to keep the game competitive and exciting. In kickball, it was interesting to watch each person depend on their partner to keep up when running the bases.

In the vision of the games, there are 6 C’s to base our leadership on, the vision must be: “Clear, easily understandable, concise, short and specific, connected, compelling, contrasting, and credible.” (MT pg. 73) It has to be challenging and appealing in order to accomplish anything.

In the business world, if there is not a clear vision then their will not be a clear goal. In chapter 6 they talk about “the Rotten Apple,” if one person in a group is disrupting the energy it can plant negative feelings in everyone. This can destroy the objective of the group.