Introduction
The sports and entertainment sector has operated differently from other industries for a long time. It depended on extremely well-liked sporting arenas with generations of devoted, loyal, and competitive followers. In this field, it is essential to have a wide variety of abilities and competence in the complicated and dynamic subject of sports administration (Gammelsater, 2021).
Leadership is among the most crucial elements of sports administration since it is crucial to setting the tone, directing the decision-making process, and guaranteeing the success of sports organizations at all levels. One of the critical Canadian sports business marketing professionals who embraced the importance of leadership is Michael “Pinball” Clemons, a former football player and currently a manager for the Toronto Argonauts. He is considered one of the most influential in the field due to his unique leadership approach. Leadership is a cornerstone of sports business marketing, and Michael Clemons can serve as an exemplary case for proving it.
Peculiarities in Sports Management
The origins of sports management in physical education have been severely abandoned. Sports management research and curriculum have little in common with physical education or many other fields, even though there are still close linkages to the sociology of sport (Masteralexis & Hums, 2023). To better understand sports organizations and the people who work there and to enhance the administration of sports at all levels, it has transitioned from studying the physical science of sports and participation to tests based on social science ideas. The body of knowledge gained from the study in this field has been highly beneficial to theory and practice and has continued to advance.
Setting a clear vision and goals for a sports organization or team requires effective leadership. An influential leader can create a clear path to success, motivate team members to work toward a single objective, and convey a compelling vision for the future. A sports organization or team can quickly become unorganized and unproductive without a clear vision and goals, which causes confusion and annoyance among players and supporters (Dees et al., 2021). Leaders may inspire their team to pursue greatness and push themselves to attain their most significant potential by clearly communicating their vision and goals.
Creating a strong team culture is another crucial leadership function in sports management. A strong team culture is necessary to establish a happy and effective atmosphere where team members may flourish and realize their goals (Scott, 2021). A manager who puts team culture first may foster an atmosphere that fosters cooperation, communication, and a feeling of purpose. This may promote teamwork and loyalty among players, boost morale and output, and eventually improve performance on the field or court (Dees et al., 2021).
Sports management is not always straightforward, and managers frequently have to make tough choices that impact the performance of their group or team. Leaders need to make difficult decisions that are in the best interests of their team or company, from budgeting and strategic planning to recruiting and firing employees (Karg & Funk, 2020). Influential leaders can balance the pros and cons of every possibility and make well-informed judgments based on information, experience, and intuition.
Leadership is essential when considering the always-developing nature of sports business today. To stay competitive in the sports world, leaders must adapt to new trends and technology and drive change (Pedersen et al., 2020). A risk-taking, unconventional, and creative leader may support their team or organization in being flexible and adaptive, positioning them for success today and in the future. Clearly, leadership and management in sports are crucial to the sector’s development
The successful operation of the sports organization is a primary subject of management theories. Examples include, among others, leadership, a feeling of community, the legacy of significant athletic events, sports politics, governance, and sports for peace and development (Yimet al., 2021). Scholars of sports management are increasingly examining how sports might contribute to positive social transformation.
Sports Management of Michael Clemons
One of the most important examples is using sports to accomplish goals and resolve individual, organizational, or community issues (Dees et al., 2021). Michael “Pinball” Clemons is an indicative illustration in this regard. For many who want to positively impact society, his career and leadership style might serve as an inspiration.
In terms of sports management, Michael Clemons exemplified the concept of leadership. His ability to blend many leadership philosophies made him such a great manager, as he combined components from each leadership style to produce a unique strategy that worked in his favor. Michael Clemons’ leadership style may be described as transformational with a dash of people-oriented, per study (Ratten, 2020). His employment of a transitional leadership style was highly apparent, mainly while he was a coach.
A crucial element of the transitional leadership style is the need for a qualified, inspirational, or motivating leader (Goebert & Greenhalgh, 2020). Clemons has consistently extracted more from his teammates thanks to his ability to inspire them. His coaching approach inspired the players and pumped them up for every game.
Michael Clemons personified the idea of leadership in sports management. His ability to blend a variety of leadership philosophies made him such a successful manager since he combined parts from each leadership style to create a unique approach that played to his advantage. According to analysis, Michael Clemons’ leadership style may be transformative and people-oriented (Ratten, 2020). Mainly, when he was a coach, his utilization of a transitional leadership style was quite apparent.
A crucial component of a transitional leadership style is the requirement for the proper individual to lead and be a motivational or inspirational person on top of that (Goebert & Greenhalgh, 2020). Clemons’ ability to motivate his teams has allowed him to get more from them several times. As soon as Clemons took over, the squad got fired up and started succeeding. He was the appropriate candidate for the position and unquestionably the guy they sought to coach their football team because he offered a style that motivated the players and had them ready to play each week.
Additionally, Clemons employs several components of a leadership approach that prioritizes the needs of others. This type of leadership is uncommon in the sport, and Clemons made it work even though very few people had a voice in coaching choices. He kept the squad dynamic by consistently asking his team leaders for information (Wallen, 2019).
He also remained true to his stance of “team above all.” On and off the field, collaboration was prioritized. Similarly, the crew consistently showed up and volunteered to assist in every manner possible during the game. As a result, Clemons made a distinctive contribution to Canadian football by bringing a distinctive leadership style to sports marketing.
The performance of sports organizations and teams may be significantly impacted by competent leadership, which is essential in sports management. A competent leader can motivate his team to do great things and experience long-term success (Dees et al., 2021). This can be implemented by establishing a clear vision and goals, developing a solid team culture, developing and supporting talent, and driving innovation and change (Karg & Funk, 2020). As a result, teams and sports organizations must place a high value on leadership and invest in creating capable leaders who can guide them to success on and off the field or court.
Conclusion
Concluding, it can be seen that leadership plays an essential role in sports business marketing. Due to the problems the sports sector faces and the need for competent management, sports leadership is now needed for success. Michael Clemons can be seen as one of the exemplary persons who advanced the field of sports marketing and showed the importance of leadership in this field. He is one of the most recognizable Canadians who successfully applied leadership strategies to sports.
References
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Masteralexis, L. P., & Hums, M. (2023). Principles and practice of sport management. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
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