“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Teddy Roosevelt

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Leaders With Character Do What is Right Even When No One is Watching

The article that is linked below is a tremendous teachable example of leadership integrity. The article is about the East Carolina University football program. The Athletic Director, Terry Holland, became aware of a NCAA violation by an assistant coach. The coach was reportedly observing and evaluating players during voluntary summer workouts in direct violation of NCAA rules. When questioned by Holland, the coach admitted to the violation and resigned his position to avoid a distraction to the team.


Holland said that the school will notify the NCAA of the violation and will fully cooperate with the investigation. In the Times News newspaper article, head football coach McNeill stated,

“This is certainly an unfortunate development, but integrity will be the foundation of our program. We are going to comply with the spirit and letter of NCAA rules at East Carolina. I expect my players to do the right thing… and I demand my coaches to do the same. As head football coach, failure to comply with NCAA rules will not be tolerated.”
What an exemplary life lesson for anyone aspiring to be a person of high moral character and a leader of integrity.




It appears that this violation was one known only to the inner circle of the football program and the Athletic Director’s office. It would have been easy for Holland and Coach McNeill to tell their staff to “let’s keep this quiet and no one will find out about it”. They would probably have been scot-free. Obviously this was not an option since AD Holland and Coach McNeill obviously run an integrity based athletic operation at East Carolina. It takes character to turn your own self and program in to the authorities when in all likelihood the violation could have been contained.


I submit that what will be gained by this act of integrity by all involved will be greater by far than the penalties they may received. Think about the character lesson the players from all the athletics programs at the university have learned from the actions of these men of integrity and courage. I tend to believe they, and anyone else willing to learn from this incident, will carry this example of character-based leadership with them for their entire lives. Perhaps it will lead them, and us, to do the right thing even when no one else will ever find out. A popular definition of integrity is just that: doing the right thing when no one is watching.


Golden Nuggets for Consideration:

• Leading with character requires the leader to have a zero tolerance for unethical behaviors by themselves and anyone under their influence.

• If you are not willing to lie about what you do, then you are less likely to do anything that might put you in a position where you are tempted to lie.

• If you make a mistake, do the right things, own up to it, take your medicine, learn from it, and move on promising yourself never to make that mistake again.
• To demand and expect integrity from others you must exemplify it with your own behaviors.


• Remember that your character is who you really are, verses your reputation, which is who others think you are. Over time the two will either converge or diverge depending upon your integrity or the lack thereof. The choice is our own!

Leadership
No written word nor spoken plea,
Can teach your team what they should be,
Nor all the books on all the shelves,
It’s what the leader is himself.
John Wooden


Listen to a news conference of Coach McNeil’s announcement as the new ECU football coach

http://www.cstv.com/printable/schools/ecu/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/welcome-coach-mcneill.html
Read the news article published in the Times News

http://www.thetimesnews.com/sports/violations-35649-coach-amid.html

Esse Quam Videri!                                             

Carpe Diem
Posted by Blue Light Leadership at 4:32 PM
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)