What is Leadership?

“The Future Belongs To Those Who Can See It”

Written by Dan Salzwedel

Henry David Thoreau once said, “the future belongs to those who can see it.”

To be effective leaders in our society, we have to know the consequences, or what lies ahead in the future, to truly have an impact upon the mindset of generations to come.

I’ve observed over the past 15 to 18 years that we’ve tended to “cushion” consequences rather than allowing students, and adults as well, to feel the result of their actions. In other words, we’ve taken responsibility from the equation which, in many cases, has diluted the value mindset we’re attempting to teach.

One of the goals of the NMAA Board of Directors for this year, and perhaps for many years to come, is the development of leaders who can mentor others and perpetuate the objective of interscholastic activities. Easier said than done, as in many cases schools (our own members) have forgotten, or perhaps ignored that objective and the real purpose for our existence as interscholastic educators. Like the proverbial story, we tend to cannibalize each other and pull down those who may have risen above the level of expectation, or tolerance, if you will.

I believe we occasionally do this to kids, in that we suppress dreams and are not prudent enough in teaching the responsibilities attached to this great laboratory for learning. The NMAA Values and Success Traits Survey can be viewed on the website at www.nmact.org under “Submit Information.” Thousands have participated in this process, which reveals significant trends in terms of the impact we as educators (administrators, coaches, advisors, etc.) have on the value mindset of those we lead. The realization of the impact the interscholastic experience has upon shaping an individual’s values increases proportionately to the number of years they have been away from that experience. In witnessing some of the behaviors we’re experiencing right now, I’m concerned that we don’t understand, with the depth and breadth we need to, how much of an impact we actually do have on the future of society. We purport to believe that morals are an important part of the growth experience through interscholastic activities. In fact, it’s part of our genesis, yet we tolerate deceptiveness or cheating, as long as it doesn’t affect us, or if somebody else isn’t looking. We are acceptant, because it has approached normalcy, the use of profanity, the failure to respect someone older or by position superior, among other behaviors. These values, among other ideals, are important for establishing oneself as a successful contributor in our society.

While this may seem to paint a “doom and gloom” picture, all too frequently we do have schools and parents who irresponsibly defend students as exceptions to the eligibility rules, or oppose sanctions implemented because of mistakes made by adults. Simply putting it into the legal system does not justify any effort, morally, ethically or from a value perspective. The fact is, the legal system does not consider values or morals, and furthermore doesn’t pretend to. Just like fancy footwork can camouflage poor hands in a football game, so can attorneys and/or school people who purport to do this “for the kids,” but in reality are simply responding to a more immediate role or gratification which does not serve the best interest of the student in this laboratory for learning.

Essentially, students in our area learn how to handle consequences, in a non-threatening environment, and the great majority of our participants become exceptionally good leaders because they have learned the concept of the consequences of their own actions. Seventy-two to seventy-six percent of the local, state and national leaders are former participants in high school activities. Their experience enabled them to better understand parameters and work through and accept consequences for their behaviors.

This directly relates to the leadership pool and the absence of people who are strong enough to assure good standing for the future. We shape society for subsequent generations by setting the template of expectation and holding firm to it, regardless of the consequence. Leadership isn’t-until you display it, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to be role models for the future. The interscholastic educational process is still the greatest learning tool available to formal education. Simply responding to today’s needs will not satisfy or promise a productive and substantive future. Rules, for the sake of rules, lack depth. If you take out the ethical and moral standard of any rule or law, you’re absent substance and breadth as it relates to the future. That is also why sportsmanship has become an afterthought for adults (and students who mirror this behavior) rather than a principal reason for existence.

In another text, this author wrote about the differing measures of success, and leadership certainly goes to that issue. We all have to be better leaders, and part of that role is to insure that people pay the consequences for behavior in this more harmless, yet exciting laboratory for learning. Again, whether we want to or not, we have a significant impact upon society’s future and to permit deviant or unprofessional behavior, regardless of the population or level, is inconsistent with that objective and most assuredly will have a negative effect in generations to come. We have to be what we want others to see. Thanks for your support of the mission and interscholastic activities in perspective.