Coach Carter: Leadership, Ethics, and Personal Development

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Mentor Carter, given a genuine story, has Samuel L. Jackson assuming the job of Ken Carter. Ken is offered a job to mentor the ball team at his previous secondary school, Richmond High. In this movie he acted as a coach of basketball so as to attempt and improve the underprivileged neighborhood of Richmond. Anyway, a significantly progressively imperative point of his was to persuade and lead the pupils on their basketball team.

He gets agreement from students which is expressing that, they may be permitted to participate on games on the off chance that they go to all classes in school and keep up a normal grade of C.

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It additionally states they should wear formal attire on diversion days and regard their partners and mentors/educators. Ken Carter utilizes a wide range of leadership styles, (which will be talked about in more profundity later on), to lead and rouse the group so as to help them on their way to the state titles undefeated.

Coach carter movie is loaded with morals and ethics. The movie exemplifies the true meaning of life. The movie has illustrated various leadership theories which many of the characters portray in the movie. As the name of the movie suggests it all begins with the life and experiences of a coach who has become mature enough through all his life experiences that he coaches the high school guys for playing basketball. The guys see nothing except playing basketball. They are a bunch of spoilt young blood who doesn’t care about anything.

However, when carter is given a job to coach these boys, he accepts no negligence’s towards the studies and the basic moral values. And the story continues with twists and turns in the lives of carter and his boys. Through this movie the passion inside carter is clearly can be seen. Just like a true leader he is visionary, disciplined and want the boys to excel not only in game but also in academics. He utilises his qualities and want his team to follow those paths in life in order to bring the best in boys. He continuously motivates boys to be on a higher edge in life. The coach knows about Cruz cousin is dealing with drugs but still motivates him to have a better life.

The leadership model which the coach follows is situational leadership model where the coach understands and listens to the team members but implies conditions which the team anyhow has to follow. Initially the team revolts but later willingly they agree to all terms and conditions and follow their leader. And the other theory which has been exhibited in the movie is contingency theory which is dependent on the leader, followers and the situation. The movie has very well described the leadership theories and all the qualities which a leader possesses through the medium of coach carter.

This theory in mainly focussed on two things-human needs and relativity of classes like self actualization, esteem, love, security etc. These can be met from external factors while physiological are met through growth and development. Coach Carter helped the students to accomplish physiological needs. Coach helped the students to fully grow and develop. Theory X tend to control the followers while Theory Y support the followers in attaining goals. Theory X people have some traits like discipline, control and focusses on performance. Theory Y is all about self belief, being open and purposeful. Coach Carter uses Theory Y to nourish the students through Theory Y’s traits.

Coach is well aware of the ethics to be followed. He threatens Cruz as he wants to educate him the respect towards the game, his coach and towards other team members. Previously because he had tried to hit his coach therefore, he puts a test on him, thereby testing his patience and his ethics. He also went back to work with his cousin who has dealing in drugs. Unfortunately, his cousin is gunned down in streets by some people due to this in front of him. He is in the coach’s house that night and he let him stay there. Being a man of ethics, he knows what’s right for Cruz and help him in doing what is correct.

Healthy relation with every individual: According to the Coach, We should build good relations with each and every person whether he will be our team member or opposite team. Inspire others: He had ability to motivate and influence others in an effective manner. he said his all students to sign a contract so that they will be able to improve their grades. Clear set of values: he clearly told that there is no need of anyone who don’t understand the value of unity in the team. For our team, not only win matters but also unity and ethics have equal importance.

Carter gives chances to Cruz as he knows what he is going through after his cousin was gunned down but still being an effective leader, he supports him. In the end he also values his coach for what is he is and making him realise his mistakes and helped him in being a good human being. As a leader, Carter has his goal set he also decides to meet the director. His intention of going after his ideas is very clear. He wishes his players not only to play but also consider academics equal importance and he leads his player very well as he motivates them to study also. He is satisfied with their academic results because they are working hard towards their goals.

They respect their leader and his decisions laid down as they have confidence in their leader that whatever he has decided for them will be for better. He is concerned about his players and he wishes to change their life in every aspect. He set targets for his team also like 2500 push-ups and 1000 suicides to carry before end of the week. Cruz is not able to meet up those targets and complete 80 suicides and 500 push-ups and here Carter being fair as a good quality of leader takes decision accordingly. Setting goals may appear unfair to other team members but he doesn’t accept it. As he doesn’t complete the task therefore, he cannot integrate him into the team. He is being firm on his decision and sets an example in front of the players.

We see that under Carter’s leadership the team players also start playing well and winning matches because of his qualities they are able to develop themselves as individual. Even his own son who gets so excited and decides to quit his school and enters Richmond High school in order to play basketball from his dad’s team. His own child knows his father’s potential and loves to join the team he is coaching. He does not differentiate his son and between other players, treating with equality is also another aspect of a great leader. He sets fair targets for each and every player. Whether it be anyone he just cares what is the right thing for them at the moment.

He is honest, and well respected by him players and listened but also all of the players are well understood of that fact that the coach wishes the best for them in each and every manner. He also makes his player realise their mistakes by imitating the behavior that players had during the previous match and they feel humiliated by their mistakes. This shows how their behavior was seen as when they were playing that game, how other people observed them. He made the players meet the reality and to seek what they were portraying. He tells them that their behaviour is not right and it is even hampering the sport spirit.

The main part of Carter being as a leader can be seen clearly when the team loses to St. Francis. He is full of determination and motivates his player. Here another quality of he being a good orator as he wants to fill enthusiasm in his players and tells them that losing a game is not ending. He shows them path and the players feel motivated with this.

Contingency Theory: Coach Carter was very responsible and strict toward his duties. That is why he had low LPC. School team won only 6 coordinates in a year. He wanted to improve the player in basketball as well as in studies. This was the reason of his strict behaviour with team players. Situational contingency theory also applied on the behaviour of Coach Carter. Initial he was very strict and rude with players. When players became responsible toward their duties than he started behaving as a friend with them. His behaviour changed with situation.

Transformational Theory: Coach Carter always inspired team players to give their best in match not to win the match. He influenced the players to work together. He wanted that players should get good marks in a study that is why he made 2.3 GPA necessary to achieve in studies for players if they want to play in team. He did not want to affect their study because of game. He got positive result of his motivation. Players won the match as well as did well in studies.

Honesty is the key moral in my life. I have been honest about anything, whether it be maintaining relationships personally or professionally. At job also I would be committed to my work, be honest with my colleagues and senior also. Also, their support played an immense role in my life and I try to keep up with each and every relation. Due to my interactive nature I get along with people very easily and thus here comes my second moral of being helpful. I love to help my friends, Family and colleagues whenever they require my support. My support is in terms of the best advice which I can give, or any decision which is very crucial in their life just like I helped my sister in order to pursue her career as per her qualification as she was not able to decide.

She thanked me and still shares a credit to me that I suggested her in choosing a right path on professional front. I love to stand by what is right. Maintaining my integrity is one thing which I keep in my mind while working with any organization or dealing with any customer. It helps me to stick by my values and adhere to the various processes involved for any task. Some of the leadership skills in me is that I am a hard worker. Any task being assigned to me I try to finish as soon as possible with all the dedication till the target is achieved. Just by aiming on to my goal I am committed to that in order to accomplish it. I enjoy communicating with others and having that quality I love to make a clear vision related to any work in order to get clear and results in one-time efforts.

Communicating clearly what is to be achieved helps me and my subordinates to accomplish the efforts require in any task. The sense of clarity is seen in work and time bound target are easily achieved due to this. Being a person who is decisive, I love to take decisions which are requires a quick response. As decisions allow us to run on a particular path, keeping in mind the bottlenecks and in any situation, I take decisions and stand by it. I do also take concern from respective colleagues before any decision. I am confident enough to handle any task allotted to me. I respect other decisions and also put forward my view wherever it is required. I think my creative thinking and constant innovative ideas make me different from others. I love to think out of the box and ways through which my daily task can be achieved without much effort. This helps me to work in any environment and coordinate with others also.

I worked under Mr. Joe Smith. Working under him was a great experience for me as I learned a lot more things from him. Under his guidance I was confident in my work, task assigned by him. His vision towards achieving any target was clear so it did help me in terms of growing and keeping an eye on my targets. His support in any critical situation was a helpful for me. Whenever I needed his support regarding any issues, he would definitely support me. Being helpful he always used to guide on various ways to get a particular task easier. He always guided me in right manner. He did always appreciate me for new innovations I did in any particular process and did acknowledge the fact that I always try to bring something new to the table.