Below is from a paper that I wrote for my UofL Executive Speaker Class last year. I thought it was worth publishing as reminder that charisma isn't everything. Enjoy!
Reflection – Rick Pitino and Bill Lamb
Lively, personable, and charismatic are the phrases that come to
mind when I consider Bill Lamb’s executive leadership presentation to the
University of Louisville MBA students. Obviously,
Bill is a very passionate and energetic leader. He exhibits many of the
leadership traits described in various scholarly texts, including credibility,
focus on the future, and emotional intelligence. But, it is difficult for me to put him into the
same category as a transformational leader such as Rick Pitino. Coach Pitino,
clearly, demonstrates his authenticity not just in his book, “The One Day
Contract”, but in the overtones from his talk, where he spent considerable
energy discussing humility and self-awareness.
As such, I would have to quantify Mr. Lamb as a charismatic leader
instead. Charismatic leaders share many
of the traits of transformational leaders but are often motivated more from
extrinsic rewards, money, fame or power, versus intrinsic rewards, such as, simple
enjoyment in the task itself. Simply
reviewing the title of Bill’s book, “Money Follows Excellence”, seems to further
substantiate his external motivations.
The case study, “Discovering Your
Authentic Leadership,” alludes to the shift in many mangers to more intrinsic
motivations as they mature (George, Sims, McLean & Mayer, 2007). I
willing admit that Bill’s book and leadership style would have been much more
attractive to me at the beginning of my career. In contrast, Coach Pitino is considerably
more pragmatic and outlines a practical approach to every day improvement in his
2013 book, “The One Day Contract.”
Everything in his book is simply about being a better you through
humility, focus, improved fitness, appropriate use of technology, and having a
good mental attitude (Pitino, 2013). I
found his book applicable to not just my work life but my home as well.
While I believe that Bill says all the right things, giving a
surface appearance of being a transformation leader, he lacks a level of
humility, making him less authentic.
Several times throughout our discussion, he expressly stated that his
goal was to make WDRB the best and often alluded to the ratings, an external
motivation. Additionally, as the
President and General Manager of WDRB and WMYO and the VP of Broadcast
Operations for Block Communications, it struck me as telling that he spent so
much time in front of the camera via Point of View, his daily podcast. In contrast, Pitino does not allow his
players to utilize social media during the basketball season and chooses not to
participate in electronic media in any capacity himself. This is a sharp contrast
to many of his peers in collegiate and professional athletics. He makes several
valid arguments as to the dangers of prolonged use of social media, the
internet, and online gaming. My children
will probably not appreciate the new rules which will be initiated very soon in
my home as a result of reading Pitino’s book.
Both Lamb and Pitino clearly demonstrate the characteristics of
leaders outlined in “The Truth About Leadership” by Kouzes and Posner (2010). But, I found Pitino to be more credible,
authentic and humble. Because he focuses
on self-development and learning, I believe he is the more qualified to lead an
organization outside of his current expertise. In fact, given his strong moral
conviction, simple and articulate presentation style, and humble confidence, I
am hopeful that he will turn his leadership to the civic arena once he retires
from basketball. I believe our country
could very much benefit from such a strong, practical, and approachable
leader. Coach Pitino readily admits his
mistakes, laying open his weaknesses in an honest effort to allow readers to
learn from him. I find this very endearing and heartfelt. He is absolutely a leader that I would
willingly and passionately follow.
Christine (Reed) Barnhart
REFERENCES
George, B., Sims,
P., McLean, A., & Mayer, D. (2007). Discovering your authentic
leadership". Harvard Business Review.
Goffee, R., & Jones, G. (2000). Why
should anyone be led by you? Harvard Business Review.
Kouzes, J., &
Posner, B. (2010). The truth about leadership. San Franciscom CA:
Jossey-Bass.
Lamb, B. (2012). Money follows
excellence. Louisville, KY: Butler Books.
Pitino, R. (2013). The
one day contract. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press.
