Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way- Human Nature, Sports, and Leadership — Part II

Posted at 5:00am — 8/9/2012

Michigan Football: Coach’s Corner — Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way- Human Nature, Sports, and Leadership — Part II

Sports aficionados readily point to the above famous quote as being attributed to Vince Lombardi. World War II historians place this quote upon the throne of General George S. Patton. Theater buffs have heard similar words about Julius Caesar.

The most attributed person to the quote is Thomas Paine, he of the Revolutionary War era and famous writer of Common Sense. Thomas Paine and Will Rogers have some of the best and long lasting quotes to have ever been penned. Paine stirred action and leadership from what is collectively called “The Founding Fathers.” Washington was reluctant, Franklin was entertaining and eccentric, but was well grounded in electrical theory, John Adams was of intellect and high integrity, but not a revolutionary until push came to shove. Paine spurred them and colonists on to rational thought in the very best of the Age of Enlightenment. He had to for as another of his famous quotes, sometimes later attributed to Ben Franklin, stated, “If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.”

Lead, follow, or get out of the way is a very sound way to describe the eclectic bond between human behavior and leadership. There are simply different elements, styles, and roles related to leadership.

By nature there are people who are very satisfied to follow. This is an easier path, it requires less verbalizing, less theorizing, less management, less total involvement, and less responsibility. Many things are said about this segment of society, some good, some bad, some true, and some glorified generalities. This group has historically made up most of society.

Some seek leadership and prepare for years to be in positions of leadership. To them in general the rewards and benefits outweigh the negatives. Again, like in the above paragraph, many things are said about this segment of society, again good and bad.

Lead and follow relates to boss and employee, coach and player, government and citizen, and so many other relationships in daily life. Lead and follow can relate to societal order, efficiency in business, or winning in sports. In the distant past the model in sports was- me lead, you follow. Following the previous, a slight evolution to- me coach, you best player, and you are expected to be a model and leader. But the past few years have seen a successful transition to leadership training that involves at least all upperclassmen, if not the entire team. Theoretical blowhards speak of empowerment of the individual. Social types speak of coming together as a group. Realists speak of using an effective strategy to increase management and performance. The realist could care if the secret success was marbles or extra math courses: whatever works will be included in the plan.

In the early days of baseball head coaches were called managers, not head coaches. Baseball was thought to be a game where on the field decision-making and management of personnel was the key to winning. Leadership was a distant afterthought.

Otto Klemperer, the famous father of Werner Klemperer (Colonel Klink), was once asked about achieving a precise tempo in conducting, as with Toscanini. Old Otto said he could care less, if tempo happened, then ok, so be it. In the old days of sports, if leadership happened, then ok, that is nice. Leaders were simply the management and best players; one had power and the other skill. Babe Ruth was considered a leader by the common fan, but the antithesis of leadership by baseball management.

As time progressed hero image merged with leader image, and the best of the best were leaders and heroes. Next up: Part 3- Is leadership natural or developed?

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Doc4Blu

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