The Transformational Leadership model provides many benefits to all coaches. Currently I am serving as co-head coach of our golf program and as assistant varsity coach with our basketball program.  In both roles Idealised Influence has a mojor impact on our players.  Preparation is one example of how this influence can affect our players.  As coaches we know preparation is an important part of our job to be succcessful. Often times we may not realize our preparation (or lack thereof) is noticed by our players.  How we prepare ourselves and our team for every practice, film session, game, or trip plays a role in how our players will also prepare. This example is also creating good habits.  We have all heard the phrase “do as I say, not as I do”, and that simply does not correlate with transformational leadership.  Coaches need to model the behavior they expect.  When we are prepared we clearly communciate to our teams the expectations and values we want to display.  Creating a positive culture in your program is neccessary for growth and improvement. Positivity spreads good vibes. In one of our basketball drills, we teach pointing to a teammate to recognize a good pass or a good screen. It is important to establish “norms” in practice that will translate to the game, and that goes beyond X’s and O’s.  Players know if they do not spread postivie re-enforcemt to each other, the next group is in the drill and they have lost their opportunity for the moment in that drill.  Leading by example is demostrated in how we communcaite with others.  If a coach is heard or seen berading and yelling at an official, the players may construe this as acceptable behavior.  In order to influence your group in a positive way, the leader must demonstrate these behaviors to all people involved process. A positive culture creates a great learning environment.

Idealised Stimulation can piggyback on this positive culture. Creating and maintaining an environment that allows for people to accepted and valued is very important. It has often been said that people join teams to be part of something bigger than themselves, to be loved, to accomplish a goal, and to feel needed or wanted. Having a team where everyone feels included goes a long way in establishing unity. As a head coach we often spend hours planning and working to set up the perfect game plan or practice schdeule. Incorpoarting your assitant coaches or even players in this process will generate new ideas. Not only does this allow for players to hear other voices but it also gives a sense of empowerment to those included.  Small examples work and does not always mean you have to reliquish authority. In our last golf season we had a very compettive group of girls who could beat one another on any given day. We worked hard to establish team cohesiveness but still wanted the girls to feel like they a major part of some of the decision making. At the beginning of each week near the end of practice we established a players only meeting. The girls would gather together and decide what unifoms combinations they were going to wear for each match for the week. Apparently this is a big deal to high school girls. This was a change for us as in previous years the coaches would just announce what color top and color bottoms each girl needed to wear to the matches.  Allowing them to come together and decide for themselves was important to them. It forced them to communciate and compromise with each other. The ideas grew and team memebrs starting going above and beyond to help each other by making hair bows that cooridinated with the rest of the outfit or tye-dying teams socks. These were things I would have never considered but not only did it bring our team closer together, it allowed for the girls to feel they were a part of the prcocess.

We have all recited our favorite quote from a former coach or even used a line from a our favorite movie to motivate our players before a game. Inspiratinal motivation goes beyond that.  While the players may hoot and holler in the locker room after the inspiring speech, that moment can fade away.  Both in basketball and golf we try to set up small goals each day or week. These goals require some work but should be achieveable goals. These building blocks helps instill confidence.  When you create challenges that are conquered, that person feels good about themself which will improve performance down the road.  Having a series of small successes is creating bank of confidence coaches can draw from in a time of need.  Players who need inspiration or motivation are often dealing with a struggle. Being able to reference a time where they did conquer a quest or were able to work through difficult times will bring back that confidence.  Leaders can instill the will and desire in their players when they have established a positive culture that allows for players and coaches to work together towards a common goal. Creating that environment in pracitce by having acheiveable goals that players have already defeated can motivate them to move forward towards that next step.

Establishing relatonships is at the core of team building.  As mentioned before people will join temas for many reasons, but the feeling of being need or loved is a major factor.  Simple gestures like shaking a players hand each day, looking them in the eyes when speaking and listening are the beginnings of establsihing a good relationship with your players.  This can combine with the IS strategy as well where players or coaches feel they are part of the process and not just another number on the team.  Getting to know your team as a whole is important, but knowing each member on a bit more personal level goes a lot further in establishing a connection. In our basketball pracitces we have a designated time where we will play music.  Music is something that people can connect to that is outside of the sport that brought us together.  Having a team members favorite song play, or allowing them to create the playlist for the drill helps this connection. It creates conversations amongst players and staff that can reveal important details about your group.  Taking the time connect with each indivdual increases that person self worth. They feel not only connected to the team but they feel cared about on a personal level.  

Bernard Bass’ model for leadership is a geat way to create unity.  All members involved in the organization feel that they have value. This allows for new ideas and a cohesiveness that goes beyond the playing arena.