A Matter of the heart and Coach Knight

Coach K and Coach Knight both attained considerable success during their college training professions. Both coaches had the knowledge, skills, and capabilities to lead their teams to numerous victories. Nevertheless, their methods to this success were really various. Robert Katz and M.D. Mumford recognized 3 skills that leaders should need to ensure their effectiveness and success. Those abilities included: technical, human, and conceptual abilities. Robert Blake and Jane Mouton developed a management grid that showed habits of leaders that were based on individuals and results.

Based upon these two leadership designs, the coaches were really varied on the techniques exercised to lead their groups. One coach was more worried about human skills and development of individuals, while the other coach was more concentrated on technical skill and outcomes.

In employing the Katz and later studies of Mumford's abilities approach, Coach K is dedicated in promoting the advancement and development within his team. He utilized his human abilities in his capability to work with his team and other training personnel to accomplish their objectives (Northouse, p.

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45). He developed an environment of rely on where the group had faith in his management and each other. Coach K encouraged his group to rely on each other's concepts and principles and adjusted them into his guidance of the group. He used his technical and conceptual skills by creating a shared vision for the team and staff; while also using his knowledge and abilities about basketball to allow the team to reach victory.

Coach Knight’s skills and how they related to the Katz and Mumford’s approach were slightly different.

He utilized his technical skills with his team by providing them with examples of his experience and expertise of the game. Coach Knight conducted specific activities and drills that would ensure the team would be successful. He strongly believed that physical activity or the use of technical skills which involve hands on activity or processes within an organization would guarantee victory (Northouse, p. 44). Creating a plan and a vision for his team, he pushed his players to strive for excellence. This was an example of his use of conceptual skills. However, Coach Knight lacked human skills. He has been criticized for being unconcerned about the feelings, thoughts, and concerns of others. Most people saw him as a tyrant or dictator.

While analyzing the coaches using the Blake Mouton Grid, they are very dissimilar as well. Coach K exhibits the Team leadership results. He is very concerned with results, but is just as concerned about his team and their individual needs. He operates his team with encouragement and motivation for individual and organizational results. The team is driven to produce results and is satisfied or content with his leadership abilities. Yet, Coach Knight identifies with the Authority-compliance management system. He is focused on results by any means necessary. This leadership style is high on results and low on concerns for people. Coach Knight follows a strict system with emphasis on policies and procedures. He has been known to punish or terminate team members for not producing acceptable results.

Although both coaches have experienced considerable success, they have two very different leadership styles used to accomplish their goals. While Coach K equally directs his attention to both task oriented and relationship based leadership, Coach Knight centers his leadership approach on only completing tasks and achieving results. Despite the distinctive natures of their leadership proficiencies, both men are respected and highly regarded in the basketball community.

References
Balancing task- and people –oriented leadership: The Blake Mouton managerial grid. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_73.html Northouse. P. G. (2013). Leadership theory and practice (6th e.d.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Snook, S. A., Perlow, L. A., & Delacy, B. J. (2005 December 1). Coach K: A matter of the heart. HBS No 9-406-044. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing Snook, S. A., Perlow, L. A., & Delacy, B. J. (2005 December 1). Coach Knight: The will to win. HBS No 9-406-043. Boston,
MA: Harvard Business School Publishing