Wooden And Dungy Leadership Style Analysis

Effective leadership is a key to any endeavor, whether it is religion, government, education, sports, or business. There are many definitions of leader. One broad definition is “a leader is someone who brings people together and guides them toward a common goal” (Fallon, 2010). Leadership can be complex and vague or it can be quite simple. During a business course the professor showed a video of Tom Peters conducting a speech. Peters is a nationally known leadership and business practices writer and speaker. He takes his subject seriously, often getting emotional and inspired. Shortly into the video speech he had his jacket off, his tie loosened, and half way into his speech his shirt was soaked in sweat. He told a story that intrigued students.

Many of his former players live by the pyramid of success (Wooden & Caty, 2009). Tony Dungy, a retired NFL football coach who won a super bowl with the Indianapolis Colts, has a leadership style much like Wooden’s. He didn’t yell at his players or try to intimidate them. He, like Wooden, believed preparation was the key to success. “Practice well, and the games will take care of themselves”.

Dungy believed preparation was key to life’s journey, whether it be sports or personally

(Dungy, 2008). Wooden and Dungy are examples of leaders who got extraordinary results using the low keyed approach to leadership. Bobby Knight, a retired college basketball coach used the opposite approach to winning and leadership. Knight was a fiery, temperamental, and abusive leader. He would yell, discipline, and at times physically threaten his players to get them to play harder and smarter. But despite the unpopular approach to leadership he was a true leader. He made sure players graduated on time, he advised them on life after they left school (Feinstein, 2011).

Most individuals who played for Knight say the experience left them prepared for life’s journey. There are certain qualities that all effective leaders have. Leaders must