DEJ 4

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Anne Loehr highlights the importance of self-awareness in leadership in her article “How to Live With Purpose, Identify Your Values and Improve Your Leadership,” writing that “the best leaders are deeply aware of their personal values and how those values influence their decisions, actions, and interactions with others.” This idea is essential while coaching a professional sports team, as the culture and performance of the club may be greatly influenced by the coach’s principles. Professional coaching entails not just controlling player performance but also setting an example and creating a cohesive atmosphere that inspires players to achieve at their highest level. Coaches may establish a clear vision for their team if they are aware of their basic principles, which may include integrity, discipline, or resilience. For example, a coach who emphasizes hard effort and responsibility would probably inculcate such values into the team’s everyday operations, affecting how players practice, act on the court, and handle failure. By fostering qualities like sacrifice, collaboration, and respect for others, legendary coaches like Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs have created winning cultures. The possible dangers, meanwhile, are also brought to light by Loehr’s observation when a coach’s principles clash with the atmosphere of the squad. Underperformance and conflict may result if a coach maintains strict control over a group of players that are very autonomous. Unlike the article’s advice to think and adapt, professional sports might not have the time to realign ideals; instead, they frequently need temporary solutions like roster or coaching changes. In the end, Loehr’s focus on coordinating personal values with leadership choices highlights the significance of intentional, values-based leadership in sports by showing how a coach’s personal convictions may either favorably or unfavorably affect team culture.