A view on leadership from the eyes of a Thomas More Athlete
Leadership is not just about commanding people, but it is also about following them, and listening to them. One does not always have to be a commander, a chief or a boss to be a great leader. A great leader can also be the one who has total command and control over his life, his words, his deeds and actions, and who helps others help themselves.
"Great discipline makes great teams."
- Coach Donoghue
People define a leader as successful because they notice what the leader achieves. I define a leader as successful based off of their impact. Coach Stephen Donoghue is one of many outstanding leaders on Thomas More's campus. This is Donoghue's fourth year as a full-time Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers Coach for the Football Team and an Assistant Coach for the Track Team. Although the Saints struggled this football season, Donoghue's leadership has still shined. When asked about his leadership style Coach Donoghue stated, "My leadership style is authoritative and features a lot of positive reinforcement. Different leaders require different types of leadership styles." said Donoghue, "Someone like a preschool teacher wouldn’t need to use an authoritative leadership style because preschoolers don’t respond well with yelling and punishment. Football players on the other hand require an authoritative leadership style. Great discipline makes great teams." Generally, players who successfully make plays in their position are rewarded with gestures or words. After a wide receiver makes a successful play, one can see Coach Donoghue celebrating with them.
The best leaders are motivated and this can come from many different factors. When asked what motivated him at work Coach Donoghue stated, "The athletes are the ones that keep me going and motivated." After this answer, I realized that he wasn't driven by the program itself. He feels that coaching is rewarding. When a coach becomes selfish, they begin to worry about winning more than the athletes themselves. Coach Donoghue is the type of coach who really cares about his athletes. It’s hard to stay motivated when on a team when a team struggles. Coach Donoghue is best at keeping players motivated even in a hard battle.
by Jaeison Jefferson, Junior (Football &Track )
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