Sandberg, Michael
Fe. 26, 2013
BUS 3211
Coach Carter Reflection Questions
1. What are some examples in the movie of a leader focusing on terminal values (e.g.,
freedom, self-respect, etc. – see p. 117)? What are some examples in the movie of a
leader focusing on instrumental values (e.g., honest, responsibility, etc. – see p. 117)?
How were those terminal and instrumental values communicated?
In the film, Coach Carter emphasizes the terminal values of wisdom, happiness, social
recognition, equality, and freedom. These terminal values, which are known as being more
lifelong goal oriented, are found all throughout the film. You can tell that Coach Carter has
the values of wisdom because he tries to inform the players of the lives that they can lead if
only they think about their futures. He helps them to see that basketball is a privilege and
that graduating and going to college is the most important part. He really shows this when
he proves his passion during the lockout. Coach Carter believes in happiness. He shows this
by talking to the players in the gym about looking at their parents and thinking how they
could be better. He wanted them to feel like they can choose a better life for themselves.
The instrumental values, that help Coach Carter achieve his terminal values of wisdom
and happiness, are helpful and ambitious. He is barely getting paid any money for doing this
coaching job, and yet, he goes above and beyond what is required. He wants the boys to
succeed. He has teachers let him know how they are doing academically. Coach Carter
provides people to help aid them when they are all struggling with their GPA's.
In addition, Coach Carter shows his terminal value for social recognition. Coach Carter is
constantly saying the words, "Sir" and "Ma'am". He believes in addressing people properly
and with the respect that they deserve. He even chastises some of the guys when they
believe that to not be cool. He punishes them when they make a joke of it. Even when
Coach Carter is being confronted, attacked, or argued with, he always addresses people
properly. The instrumental value that ties to this terminal value would be polite. Having the
value of being polite is being courteous and well-mannered. Coach Carter rarely lost his
temper. He usually carried and maintained himself very well even in very difficult situations.
The principal confronted him on a few occasions and a mother even came into his store
unannounced. He kept his cool and always was respectful and kind while still being direct.
Coach Carter always displayed his terminal values of freedom and equality. He always
allowed his players to leave, he warned them of their consequences, and if they still decided
to do what they wanted, he made them pay. There was always a price to be paid for their
actions. If they were late they had to do more exercises. Coach Carter even displayed the
terminal value of equality when his own son showed up late to practice. It was his son's first
day, but Coach Carter did not show special attention. Being late was still being in Coach
Carter's book. If the players wanted to talk back they were punished. The instrumental
value related to these terminal values is being forgiving. Even when the players were dumb,
proud, and disrespectful, Coach Carter always forgave them and allowed them to come
back under certain conditions. The conditions were never easy, but he always gave them
the chance. His value for equality was also shown in his passion for wanting them all to have
the best chances at graduating and going on to be successful. He did not look at them like
the principal did. He saw their potential and wanted them all to reach it.
Throughout all of these terminal values Coach Carter always possessed the instrumental
value of courageousness. Coach Carter stood behind everything he did. He faced the press,
he faced the school board, he faced the students and the parents. He faced them all, and he
never waivered. He knew what he was doing was the best thing for the players. It was with
that knowledge and dedication to improving their lives that he was able to have courage in
facing all the problems and conflicts that came his way.
2. What are some examples in the movie of a leader empowering followers? How was
that empowerment communicated?
In the movie, Coach Carter was able to empower his students in many ways. The first
being his helping them see the potential within themselves and then helping them become
better players. He was able to provide them with confidence and new game strategies. He
was able to give them information on plays and insight into why they were not performing
to their full abilities. He noticed they were tired and not the best runners. He pushed them
to run. He provided them with the game strategies by the names of women he knew in his
past to help them communicate and play the game. This is verified by the text when in says,
"Transformational leaders give followers access to funds, materials, authority, and
information needed to complete tasks and develop new ideas."
You would have though that Coach Carter read our same textbook. He understood and
applied what the textbook teaches when it says that "Extraordinary leaders realize that
individual achievement and success is the basis for team achievement and success." Coach
Carter displayed his knowledge on this concept by making all of his players fill out a contract
at the beginning of the season. He expected them all to become the best versions of
themselves. He wanted them to become educated, to be polite, and to be dedicated to the
team. He encouraged participation and involvement. He wanted them in their classes,
sitting in the front, doing well in school and even doing community service. He was excellent
at empowering them as individuals to be better, and eventually help the team go play at the
big tournaments. They went from only winning 4 games the previous year to almost being
undefeated in the games they played. They went on to have many scholarships and attend
college.
3. How was intellectual stimulation (e.g., creativity, innovation, problem-solving, etc.)
communicated and enacted in the movie? Were there examples of missed
opportunities for intellectual stimulation? What were differences in outcomes, if any,
of when intellectual stimulation was present and when it was absent?
In the text it says that intellectual stimulation is to promote innovative ways of viewing
situations and stimulate intelligent problem solving and decision-making. I would say that
Coach Carter showed intellectual stimulation by realizing and executing his idea that these
boys were not stuck in becoming like the others in that town. The principle mentioned that
playing high school basketball might be the highlight of their lives. She also mentioned her
statistics on the school's ability to educate the students and help them get into college. She
felt like his efforts were all pointless. Coach Carter did not want to believe this. He knew
that he could make a difference in their lives. So he made a contract.
In these contracts the players agreed to the rules that were contained in the document.
They were required to sign and follow it. Some of the rules were to always be on time, to sit
in the front of the class, get a 2.3 GPA and do community service. He had higher
expectations for them than the school system did. He would go into the classrooms and see
if the boys were actually in their classes. He hounded the teachers and principal for progress
reports. He wanted them to be following their end of the deal. He stated that basketball
was a privilege and that they needed to be doing well in their lives outside of basketball.
When the students didn’t hold up their end of the bargain, he knew how he was going
to enforce his rules and get them to succeed. He locked up the gym. The town was in
outrage! The big games were cancelled. No more practices were being held. Coach Carter
said that until they all step up and help each other get the grades they need, there would be
no more basketball. The team would meet in the library with the assistance of aids and each
other to get their GPAs up.
I would argue that the moments of missed opportunities for intellectual stimulation
were at the beginning of the film. The team was not communicating well. Their education
didn’t seem to matter. Their principal thought they were hopeless and didn’t have the
desire to change the ways of the school for the past seven years. However, once Coach
Carter stepped in, he proved people wrong. He showed that this school had the potential to
be good at basketball and to obtain scholarships that will benefit the futures of the
students. He was told statistically most of them were more likely to end up dead or in jail
than in college. He didn’t want this to be the outcome for them. So he devised his method
of coaching. Although he rarely had the support he needed, he stood firm. In the end, when
the school board votes against him, his players stood up for his efforts and continue to excel
in school and not play until they fulfilled the contract. The outcome resulted in his players
getting scholarships and being accepted into colleges.
4. How would you rate and evaluate leadership communication ability in the movie?
When were there examples of open communication? When were there examples of
poor leadership communication? What were differences in outcomes, if any, of when
open communication was present and when it was absent?
I believe Coach Carter's communication abilities, as a driven leader, to be superior. He
demonstrated being an interactive transformational leader. Being interactive requires
extraordinary communication. He needed to articulate and define ideas and concepts that
escaped the minds of those in the town and school administration. He was great at
listening, teaching, and helping the team with their problems. For me, there was rarely
beneficial open communication. I feel like Coach Carter allowed others to say how they felt,
but if it was contrary to what he wanted to hear, they had punishments. In his defense, it
was for their benefit, but not so much open communication. I do remember one scene in
the movie where they are all alone in the library and the coach allows the players the
opportunity to say whatever they want in that closed space. However, that was one time.
So, I guess I would argue that Coach Carter occasionally was a poor communicator. He
did much of the communicating. What he said went. The style was more one-way
communication. In our text it mentions that a one-way communicator is generally an
unethical leader. Coach Carter was strict and dominant much of the time. There was a scene
however, after he had been lecturing them that he was disappointed with their behavior
sneaking out to that party. One of the players said something along the lines of, "Hey, we
won, isn’t that what you wanted?" The coach became quiet. It seemed that when he had
some of the others voice their thoughts when it wasn’t inappropriate he was a little easier
on them.
In terms of the differences observed when open communication was present and when
it wasn’t, I would say that when the team had open communication during their basketball
games, they were successful. When the team didn’t communicate or work together, during
the previous season, they barely won. When the team had goals and direction and could
speak while playing they did well. When it comes to the communication off the court, the
communication did seem one-sided. This resulted in a team respecting their coach and not
talking back or questioning his motives. However, sometimes he failed to see that enough is
enough and it is ok to relax every once in a while. In his defense, I honestly feel like it all
boiled down to him being an interactive leader with incredible communication skills. He was
able to turn a bunch of hood rat punks into a team of educated and successful young men.
Coach Carter was tough, yet effective. We all could learn a lot from this man who saw the
potential in others and stopped at nothing until his vision was achieved.