Leadership Is Action, Not Position, Essay

The players have a great deal of respect for one another. Though each player obviously wants his moment in the spotlight, they work well together, putting the team before personal gains. In their many seasons of loosing, the Colts have been just as gracious as they were during their Super Bowl win in 2007, where they expressed genuine excitement without gloating. The players not only work well together on the field, but many of them are also active in their hometown of Indianapolis. They volunteer and try to raise money for charities. They understand the importance of the fans, and meet them at many events throughout the year. They seem involved in the community, not like they are too important to be associated with their fans. The leadership of Tony Dungy is both a testimony to their success and a reason behind it. Dungy has given many lectures about leadership, and he has gained a reputation of being a phenomenal leader. Perhaps one reason for this is the fact that the treats his players humanely, like a family. He does not shout or curse at his players.

Thus, the Indianapolis Colts can be defined as a successful team because of their ability to struggle with adversity and still remain upright, their ability to work together, their engagement in the community, and their winnings. A combination of team work and Tony Dungy's effective leadership resulted in that success.

III. Question Three

By her statement about democracy, Mary Follett Parker means that people are not whole until they have opinions from different sources. In other words, Parker suggests that people crave the opinions of others, that they need them in order to make good decisions. What this suggests is that teachers and students, leaders and those they lead, people in power and those who are beneath them can all benefit from one another. This element applies astoundingly in the concept of leadership. In a leadership relationship, two parties exist -- the leader and the person or group being led. Although the needs of the leader are most often focused upon, both parties have needs. Thus, the two can have a beneficial relationship. Leaders can point those whom they are leading in the right direction, while those who are being lead can help leaders understand what are tactics of effective leadership. Thus, reciprocal leadership is an important concept. Both parties have needs, and through reciprocal leadership can help satisfy those needs. Leaders expect those that they lead to follow direction, to take initiative, and to bring questions and problems to the leaders. Those being lead expect leaders to bring to them direct instruction, to treat them well, and to provide a good environment to get work done. Some people are born as natural leaders, while others are not. This does not mean that those who are not should be punished. Instead, each party should be recognized for their ability and treated with equality and fairness.

Thus leadership must involve two parties -- the leader and those being lead. Mary Follett Parker implies that a task can only be completed successfully if more than one person is involved. Diverse backgrounds are needed to make good decisions. Thus, in a reciprocal leadership environment, the leader and those being lead both contribute equally to the event in an environment of fairness and equality. In this situation, the needs of both parties are met, and the environment is…