Coaching/Leadership Styles

and Effectiveness

Coach K & Coach Knight

Case Analyses
 Agenda
 Introduction
– Central Themes
 Motivation, Leadership Style, Effectiveness, Self Awareness
 Coach K
 Coach Knight
 Summary/Personal Reflections
– Compare and contrast Coach K and Coach Knight
– Motivation and You
– Contingency Approach to Leadership
 Central Themes
 Motivation
– Given that people are basically _______, the best way to motivate
them is to _________.
 Leadership Style
– What’s the most effective way to lead?
 Effectiveness
– No universally accepted criterion for effectiveness
 What should we care about?
– Vary by context and perspective
 Subordinates, peers, superiors
 Self Awareness
– Plays central role in leadership development
Coach K
 “Ithoroughly loved coaching these kids,” said
Krzyzewski following the 2001 national title.
“They’ve been so good. They’ve given me their
hearts, their minds, and not only that, they’ve
given it to each other ... I get real close to the
guys on my team. That’s the most rewarding
thing about what I do.”
 View Video Clips
 Discuss:
– What are the key points that Coach K makes?
– Who is this man?
 Whatare his values, his character?
 How would you describe his leadership style?

– How did you feel watching the video clips?

 Was Coach K likeable? Authentic?
 Would you send your son to play for him?
Coach Knight
 On February 4, 2008 upon hearing the news of his college
head coach and the sport's all-time winningest coach,
Bob Knight, announce his retirement from the game,
Krzyzewski said, "Outside of my immediate family, no single
person has had a greater impact on my life than Coach Knight.
I have the ultimate respect for him as a coach and a mentor,
but even more so as a dear friend. For more than 40 years, the
life lessons I have learned from Coach are immeasurable.
Simply put, I love him."
 View Video Clips
 Discuss:
– What are the key points that Coach Knight makes?
– Who is this man?
 Whatare his values, his character?
 How would you describe his leadership style?

– How did you feel watching the video clips?

 Was Coach Knight likeable? Authentic?
 Would you send your son to play for him?
 Coach K vs. Coach Knight

 What are the differences between the two

coaches?
 How are the two coaches alike? What
similarities do they share?
 If you were an Athletic Director at a major
university, whom would you hire as your
college basketball coach? Coach K or Coach
Knight? Why?
 If you were a talented young basketball player,
whom would you rather play for? Coach K or
Coach Knight? Why?
 Personal Reflection

 Think about someone at work who got the

“most” out of you. Was that person more like
Coach K or Coach Knight?
 Think about a time when you got the “most” out
of someone else. Were you more like Coach K
or Coach Knight?
Is It Better To Be Loved
or Feared?
 Contingency Approach
 Who We Are and Situational Demands Influence How
We Lead (see posted document)
 What Outcomes Are Important?
 Challenges of Approach
– Who you are
– What aspects of situation are important
– Balancing various outcomes
– How many styles can leader display and still be authentic?
 Developmental Implications
– If leaders can increase their range of effective
styles, while remaining true to themselves, they are
more likely to be successful
– To the extent that we clearly understand who we are
and the situation, we can select contexts that more
closely fit our dominant style(s) of leading