Leadership Misunderstood
By: Dick DeVenzio
In the article, reporter Gregg Doyle said that some fans would like to see Cota get fired up and "lead in a way befitting of a four-year starter at point guard." But Cota was quoted as saying he just can't be the in-your-face kind of guy that some people want. And he went on to say something which surprised me.
Before I explain his comment, I want to be quick to say that, though I played for Duke, I have always been an admirer of the North Carolina basketball program. Coach Dean Smith set a standard that changed basketball for the better around the world, and Bill Guthridge, the current head coach who assisted Smith for 30 years, has carried on the Carolina tradition. Nevertheless, it surprised me to read Cota's comment and to realize that the Carolina coaches -- Dean Smith included -- permitted Cota to play four years of basketball at UNC with what I would call a grand misconception about leadership. Here is Cota's comment:
"I'm not a screaming kind of guy. I lead more by example. I'm not selfish with the ball, but I play hard and I work hard in practice and I love the game. That's how I lead. I think I am a leader."
I disagree. I think he is a poor leader, as is every player who shares his way of thinking about leadership.
At my point guard programs, I emphasize all summer that "leading by example" is a wonderful thing, but it is a small part of the leadership package. And I always go on to assert:
"If all you do is lead by example, you have to realize that you lead poorly."
In my opinion, the reason that the University of North Carolina has not done better this year is that the star point guard is not a leader and, what is worse, he believes he is a leader; therefore, he doesn't even know he has a big problem that he needs to correct.
Small wonder they have under-achieved this year. Cota clearly isn't working to fill the void. How could the Carolina coaches allow him to believe he is a leader? I can't answer that. But I would like to help those of you who are playing with the same misconception.
Communication isn't just a long word; it is a powerful force. It elevates -- or drags down -- all human experience. Do you need examples? I'm not talking merely about sports here.
Try kissing someone, Guys. And then saying something. The right words can make that kiss unforgettable and lead to true love. The wrong words can make the "kissee" sorry she ever kissed you at all! Remember, it's the same kiss either way. But the right words or the wrong words can -- and do -- alter the experience dramatically.
In sports, the value of communication cannot be overestimated. Team basketball is so important. The difference between jelling and failing is so tenuous, so precarious, such a fine line. To leave such a crucial thing to chance, and to claim to lead by example is sheer folly.
There are so many ways to have a positive impact on teammates and on your team through communication that being "the quiet type" is the same as a big guy saying he just isn't interested in rebounding.
I have tried, in my book "Runnin' the Show: 88 x 44" to make leadership concrete -- and to give a variety of examples -- so that no athlete who reads my book would ever say something like Cota said to the Charlotte Observer. I admire the Carolina coaching staff and the ability of Ed Cota; but they have entirely missed the boat on the leadership-thing, and they have paid a heavy price this basketball season for that failure.
For more incredible insights and ideas from Dick DeVenzio, check out these books below:
With the ACC Tournament beginning in Charlotte on March 9, the Charlotte Observer had extensive coverage and feature articles on ACC basketball players in its March 8 edition. On the front of the sports section that day was a big, colorful photo of North Carolina's point guard, Ed Cota. The story's title was "UNC's Showman," but the subtitle read: "Cota has flash, but some say his act lacks passion."
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