Taking Names and Keeping Score
Watching a plan come together
Charlie Anderson
Most of you, if not all, have seen the somewhat old television series "The 'A' Team" at one time or another. If it wasn't back during the period 1983 - 1987 when it aired as regular part of the NBC night time line-up, then during its many re-run appearances since then.

In every one of the 98 episodes of the show, this somewhat less than traditional group of heroes found themselves caught up in a situation where they were called on to use their collective skills to right a wrong or come to the rescue of some individual or group who couldn't help themselves.

Each member of this diverse group was a specialist in their own way with individual quirks that under normal circumstances made then annoying to each other. The glue that held them together and somehow got them focused on their task at hand was the leader of the group, Colonel John Hannibal Smith. Hannibal, played by the actor George Peppard, was the one member of the group with enough vision to see how the unique qualities of the rest of the group could be used together to achieve a common goal. Probably his most famous line in each show was, "I love it when a plan comes together". When he uttered those prophetic words, no matter how chaotic and uncertain things seemed at that very moment, every viewer knew things were going to be alright and justice would be served.

I've always thought leadership at any level required a person, who would chose to assume the role, to have vision along with the other attributes that made them a good leader. The greater the ability to visualize what needs to be accomplished and the path that must be followed to get the job done, the more successful the leader and the group they are leading will be. Of course vision alone won't get the task accomplished, the leader must also be able to inspire, instruct and guide those they lead.

In the world of sports, coaches are recognized as the leaders. That is particularly true in team sports where, like Hannibal Smith, each coach has to take a diverse group of individuals and lead them in their efforts to accomplish the goals they have set for themselves individually and those they have set collectively as a group.

Also like Hannibal, the coaches must be able to get the members of the team they are leading to buy into their vision for the team whether it's through an understanding of the overall plan or simply trust in their leader. Once that has been accomplished the coach then has to direct each member of the team in their use of their individual skills while orchestrating the teams' overall efforts at carrying out the plan.

Looking back through time the most successful coaches in the history of sports have been those persons who were the best at following that basic leadership plan.

But, just so you won't be fooled into believing that's all there is to it, let me throw in a few other keys to successful leadership. For the sake of time and space, allow me to also limit my observations to those involving sports although I believe what applies to sports leadership can be adapted for any other form of leadership as well.

First, a coach is only as good as the group they are leading. In other words, each member of the team a coach is working with must have some level of skill if the team is to be successful. That rule of thumb applies at any level although it is easier to understand and accept at some levels. For example at the professional level you can draft them and pay them. At the college level you can recruit them. But at the high school level, as my father used to say, "You have to depend on momma and daddy to send you players and sometimes momma and daddy don't do so well."

Second, each coach must be allowed the freedom, within the rules, guidelines and accepted practices of the coaching profession, to develop his/her own plan without external influences putting undue pressure on the coach or the team.

Third, the coach and the team must have the necessary resources to get the job done and the unwavering support of those who are closest to the program.

When you add those pieces to the others the coach brings to the puzzle it's usually time to sit back and watch the plan for a successful program in sports come together.

Until next time .........be safe!

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