Ken Carter's Leadership Style, Traits and Behaviour
Undoubtably, Coach Carter was a great leader and coach, who encouraged his team and pushed them to be the best they could possibly be and nothing less. Ken Carter's reactions to situations vary from one to the other. His style of leading was often questioned throughout the entire course of the season, but in the end his style of leadership truly inspired his athletes. He demonstrated qualities of not only one leadership style, but instead a combination of various styles of leadership such as Autocratic, Participative, Visionary, Affiliative, Pace-Setting, Commanding, Coercive, Coaching, and Transformational. When he first started coaching the team, he came in with the "I am the coach, I make the rules, and you do as I say" type of attitude. He introduced a contract outlining what is expected of each player if they wish to participate in games, where he even got physical with one of the players who was not cooperating. Ken Carter was showing an aggressive, controlling and commanding attitude. This made for the team to accept him as a coach and take him seriously. Not only that but he knew the team had discipline issues and someone needed to teach these kids discipline for the game of basketball and the game of life.
Taking into consideration that he was a former athlete at Richmond, and a good one at that, one would assume he knew what was the best way to lead the athletes at Richmond. He doesn't lead the team the same way all the time. He used more aggressive, controlling, and commanding styles to first let his players know that he is an authority figure like autocratic, commanding, and coercive leadership. Then he understood that it is not best to continue using those styles to lead for a long time. Henceforth, he used visionary and pace-setting leadership to let the team know what he wants and how he wants it done. He told the team that "From now on the losing stops, we will only win". He also elaborated on what he feels is making the team lose, what they need to do to get in order to win and build a strong, happy, and cohesive team. Therefore, he referred to each player as "sir" and ensured all players do the same for him and one another in a show of respect. He did not always act like a dictator or a rude and strict coach. He was very fair and understanding, he got involved with his team players, and was always there to support them. Carter showed empathy and compassion towards his players especially at times when they most needed it. He gave his players a second chance, knowing that people learn from their mistakes. For example, Cruz did not cooperate with the coach and got physical the first day so the coach had to react to that and kick him out. Although, Cruz came back later in the week to ask for forgiveness. At first, Carter kept telling him to leave, but seeing that Cruz was really sorry and wanted another chance, he let him come back and join the team, but on the condition, that he would do 2500 push ups, and 1000 suicides.
Carter treated his players with the very same respect as his own children. He encouraged them to never give up and always look to improve. After every game, Carter focused not on the stats of where his team and players performed well but on the stats where they least performed or performed terribly. In other words he talked about the positives, but but focused more on the negatives. For example, when one of the players was bragging about how many points he got in the last game, Carter reminded him of the amount of turnovers the player was responsible for. Also, Carter often found times when there were many problems that occurred off the court with his players and to resolve those problems he often got to the heart of the problems, discussed with his players who were having problems, and was a very understanding. He shown qualities of an Affiliative leader, putting the problems and needs of his team first. When making some decisions he involved the team, making for a Participative leader.
Ken Carter was not only a good leader but a role model to his athletes, he displayed perseverance, determination, dedication, commitment, discipline, sportsmanship, respect, hope, empathy, and heart to his team. He always thought for the better of the team as a whole. He asked teachers to bring him progress reports so that he could make sure his student athletes were respecting their contract and staying on top of their academics. He cared much of his players to ensure they do something with their lives, whether college, a good job, or anywhere besides jail and death like Carter's teammates when he used to attend Richmond. He trained his team to be the best they could possibly be on the court and off the court. He always made his team work harder then they ever did before. Carter coached a team to improve cohesiveness within the team, make them work hard on the court, in school, and most of all be disciplined to have a bright future. Everything he did, and everything he put in was all for the better future of the athletes at Richmond so they don't end up like most kids from Richmond, in jail, on the streets selling drugs, getting involved in gangs, or shot.
Taking into consideration that he was a former athlete at Richmond, and a good one at that, one would assume he knew what was the best way to lead the athletes at Richmond. He doesn't lead the team the same way all the time. He used more aggressive, controlling, and commanding styles to first let his players know that he is an authority figure like autocratic, commanding, and coercive leadership. Then he understood that it is not best to continue using those styles to lead for a long time. Henceforth, he used visionary and pace-setting leadership to let the team know what he wants and how he wants it done. He told the team that "From now on the losing stops, we will only win". He also elaborated on what he feels is making the team lose, what they need to do to get in order to win and build a strong, happy, and cohesive team. Therefore, he referred to each player as "sir" and ensured all players do the same for him and one another in a show of respect. He did not always act like a dictator or a rude and strict coach. He was very fair and understanding, he got involved with his team players, and was always there to support them. Carter showed empathy and compassion towards his players especially at times when they most needed it. He gave his players a second chance, knowing that people learn from their mistakes. For example, Cruz did not cooperate with the coach and got physical the first day so the coach had to react to that and kick him out. Although, Cruz came back later in the week to ask for forgiveness. At first, Carter kept telling him to leave, but seeing that Cruz was really sorry and wanted another chance, he let him come back and join the team, but on the condition, that he would do 2500 push ups, and 1000 suicides.
Carter treated his players with the very same respect as his own children. He encouraged them to never give up and always look to improve. After every game, Carter focused not on the stats of where his team and players performed well but on the stats where they least performed or performed terribly. In other words he talked about the positives, but but focused more on the negatives. For example, when one of the players was bragging about how many points he got in the last game, Carter reminded him of the amount of turnovers the player was responsible for. Also, Carter often found times when there were many problems that occurred off the court with his players and to resolve those problems he often got to the heart of the problems, discussed with his players who were having problems, and was a very understanding. He shown qualities of an Affiliative leader, putting the problems and needs of his team first. When making some decisions he involved the team, making for a Participative leader.
Ken Carter was not only a good leader but a role model to his athletes, he displayed perseverance, determination, dedication, commitment, discipline, sportsmanship, respect, hope, empathy, and heart to his team. He always thought for the better of the team as a whole. He asked teachers to bring him progress reports so that he could make sure his student athletes were respecting their contract and staying on top of their academics. He cared much of his players to ensure they do something with their lives, whether college, a good job, or anywhere besides jail and death like Carter's teammates when he used to attend Richmond. He trained his team to be the best they could possibly be on the court and off the court. He always made his team work harder then they ever did before. Carter coached a team to improve cohesiveness within the team, make them work hard on the court, in school, and most of all be disciplined to have a bright future. Everything he did, and everything he put in was all for the better future of the athletes at Richmond so they don't end up like most kids from Richmond, in jail, on the streets selling drugs, getting involved in gangs, or shot.