"Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out." - Stephen Covey
On February 24, 2010, the McConnell Scholars had the opportunity to talk with Coach Charlie Strong, the head football coach at the University of Louisville. If Covey's above quote can be accepted as a fair definition of effective leadership (and I think it can), then Coach Strong has surely become one of the most effective leaders at the University of Louisville. He inherited a team that had been beaten and demoralized, and he turned it around through hard work and discipline. Any one who aspires to or feels called to lead, especially to lead a large group of individuals, would benefit from Coach Strong's insight and lessons.
One thing Coach Strong emphasized was the need for discipline. When he came to UofL, he wrote his four core values on the wall (he later added the fifth), with the stipulation that any player who violated one would be dismissed from the team. Those core values are:
1. Honesty
2. Respect towards women
3. No drugs or alcohol
4. No stealing
5. No guns
These values are posted so that the team can see them every day. It is a constant reminder of what Coach Strong expects from his team and every player on it. A good leader let's his team know what he expects and holds them to it.
Coach Strong impressed upon the McConnell Scholars that he believes that first and foremost his players are at the University of Louisville to get an education. Instead of some college programs that put the emphasis on "athlete" in "student-athlete" (I'm looking at you Calipari), Coach Strong stresses that his players are students first, then football players. He has a policy of checking in on his players in class and dropping in on tutoring sessions. You might say that Coach Strong is putting first things first in his determination to see that his players leave UofL with a college degree.
Coach Strong has shown himself to be an exceptional leader in his first season at UofL. His insights and lessons provided real world examples of practical leadership for the McConnell Scholars in attendance, and I trust that he will continue to have success both on and off the field.
GO CARDS!
On February 24, 2010, the McConnell Scholars had the opportunity to talk with Coach Charlie Strong, the head football coach at the University of Louisville. If Covey's above quote can be accepted as a fair definition of effective leadership (and I think it can), then Coach Strong has surely become one of the most effective leaders at the University of Louisville. He inherited a team that had been beaten and demoralized, and he turned it around through hard work and discipline. Any one who aspires to or feels called to lead, especially to lead a large group of individuals, would benefit from Coach Strong's insight and lessons.
One thing Coach Strong emphasized was the need for discipline. When he came to UofL, he wrote his four core values on the wall (he later added the fifth), with the stipulation that any player who violated one would be dismissed from the team. Those core values are:
1. Honesty
2. Respect towards women
3. No drugs or alcohol
4. No stealing
5. No guns
These values are posted so that the team can see them every day. It is a constant reminder of what Coach Strong expects from his team and every player on it. A good leader let's his team know what he expects and holds them to it.
Coach Strong impressed upon the McConnell Scholars that he believes that first and foremost his players are at the University of Louisville to get an education. Instead of some college programs that put the emphasis on "athlete" in "student-athlete" (I'm looking at you Calipari), Coach Strong stresses that his players are students first, then football players. He has a policy of checking in on his players in class and dropping in on tutoring sessions. You might say that Coach Strong is putting first things first in his determination to see that his players leave UofL with a college degree.
Coach Strong has shown himself to be an exceptional leader in his first season at UofL. His insights and lessons provided real world examples of practical leadership for the McConnell Scholars in attendance, and I trust that he will continue to have success both on and off the field.
GO CARDS!