Playing lacrosse in college before transferring to Penn State, I have learned a lot about leadership and what it takes to become a good leader. Being a collegiate athlete allows you to learn the importance of discipline and leadership on and off the field. I played lacrosse in college for three years until transferring, learning a lot about what it takes to be a leader on the field and in the classroom. Being a junior before I left my last school, the freshman would look up to the upperclassmen, and learn from what we would do. This was a very humbling experience because as a teammate, you did not want to let them down, or steer them in the wrong direction. This allowed me and other upperclassmen to portray leadership and responsibility on the field and in the classroom.
This video is a prime example of how leaders on the team rally together in order to accomplish a single goal. It was important for us to be model students, in order for the younger players to understand that education comes before sports. Being a captain of young adults on a sports team means that there are a certain set of behaviors that you must possess in order to be an effective leader. I found that path-goal theory was the most useful tool in motivating my fellow teammates. Path-goal theory is about how leaders motivate subordinates to accomplish designated goals. The goal of this leadership theory is to enhance employee performance and employee satisfaction by focusing on employee motivation (PSU 2015). This was proven effective because I knew that my team and I wanted the same goal, which was to win. In order to do this, we preached hard work and dedication on and off the field in order to be the best person and athlete we could be. This appeared to enhance the confidence of the team, knowing that they are trying to be superior student athletes, and that they will do whatever it takes to succeed.
This diagram is a prime example of the different facets it takes to become a successful leader. As mentioned earlier it takes vision, values, encouragement and empowerment to be a successful leader. This diagram directly correlates with being a captain on a sports team because it shares the same values we try to instill in our younger players.
Looking at Leadership through Many Lenses. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2015, from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/su15/psych485/001/content/01_lesson/07_page.html
Kaitlin Marie Kodack says
I love how you incorporated the video and the picture to help the reader understand the point that you are making. I do have a few questions to ask you. How did you connect the work you did in the classroom to the leadership you had on the field? What did you learn along the way? Was it easy for you to adjust to school and playing a sport? What did you learn from being a leader on the field that has affected you in your every day life? I played a sport in high school, but I know that there is a huge difference between managing college work and a college sport together. I would love to hear more about your experiences. Thank you for sharing!