Controls discussion with followers

Sets policy and procedures unilaterally

Dominates interaction

Personally directs the comple- tion of tasks

Provides infrequent positive feedback

Rewards obedience and pun- ishes mistakes

Exhibits poor listening skills

Uses conflict for personal gain

Laissez-Faire

Allows followers free rein to set their own goals

Engages in noncommittal, superficial communication

Avoids discussion with followers

Allows followers to set policy and procedures

Avoids interaction

Provides suggestions and alter- natives for the completion of tasks only when asked to do so by followers

Provides infrequent feedback of any kind

Avoids offering rewards or punishments

May exhibit either poor or effec- tive listening skills

Avoids conflict

Hackman-Johnson 6E.book Page 41 Tuesday, March 12, 2013 12:54 PM

42 Chapter Two

Box 2.2 Case Study The Laid-Back Leader6

Roland Ortmayer is a most unusual leader. Ort—as he is known to his friends—was head foot- ball coach at a small southern California school, the University of La Verne, for 43 years. In a pro- fession in which winning is the measure of success, Ort’s teams won only slightly more games than they lost during his coaching career (190 wins, 186 losses, 6 ties). That does not trouble Ort; he truly believes the adage “let the better team win,” even if that team is the opposition. If Ort’s view of competition seems unusual, consider the following:

Ort never required his players to attend practices. “I think there is something wrong with a player if he practices every day,” says Ort. When players did attend his practices, Ort offered his own homespun brand of logic. For example, Ort cut short passing drills after eight consecutive incom- pletions. Conventional wisdom suggests eight missed passes in a row would demand more, not less, practice. Explains Ort, “The problem was all we were practicing was incompletions.”

Ort never recruited a player. He believed that athletes should attend La Verne because of its academic programs, not because of the football team. “I don’t like recruiting. If you can out- recruit a school you can outplay them. Sports should be fun and play.” Ort taught 10 physical education courses per year while at La Verne and considered himself, first and foremost, a teacher. Football is an “educational adjunct,” explains Ort. Besides, he adds, there are many differ- ent ways to win. Some years Ort had “a miserable football season but a great archery class.” He did not measure his success on his win-loss record on the football field.

Ort does not believe that football players should lift weights. There is too much physical work that needs to be done to waste time lifting useless weight. “I don’t care if a player can bench press the world,” the coach explains. “I just want my players to become the best they can be.”