A frontrunner is an individual who has the power to guide or command a whole group of individuals, a frontrunner is somebody who’s adopted by different individuals. Being a frontrunner is an excellent privilege, it’s one thing that isn’t essentially handed to a person neither is it one thing that may be purchased, management is one thing that’s earned. This whole course we have now been studying about and discussing varied traits of efficient leaders. A few of these traits included confidence, charisma, braveness, coronary heart, perseverance, and amongst many others.
This paper will focus totally on one particular person who exemplifies these traits and lots of different traits which contributes vastly to his success as a frontrunner. The individual that has been chosen for the premise of this paper is Ray Lewis, a twelve 12 months pro-bowl choice linebacker from the Baltimore Ravens.
The rationale I’ve chosen Lewis for this paper is due to the qualities he has as a frontrunner not solely on the enjoying subject, however off of it as properly.
He’s what I consider to be the perfect and most motivational and inspirational participant within the Nationwide Soccer League at this time, perhaps even all sports activities. The item of this paper is to elaborate on Lewis’ traits and supply a proof of his management type and why they’re efficient.
This paper will start by giving an in depth Assessment of Ray. After the Assessment it is going to then transfer into discussing Ray’s types of management. After speaking about Lewis’ types it is going to then start going by means of all his traits as a frontrunner and what makes him stand out as a frontrunner, in different phrases, I’ll clarify why Ray Lewis is such a robust and efficient chief and the explanation he stands out to individuals apart from his group.
Ray Lewis is an expert soccer participant who’s presently in his 17th season enjoying for the Baltimore Ravens within the Nationwide Soccer League. Lewis, born on Might 15th 1975, ranks him amongst one of many oldest present gamers within the league. Even at age thirty-seven Lewis manages to nonetheless be one of the dominant forces within the recreation at this time even whereas competing with and in opposition to athletes who’re almost half of his age. Seasoned however skilled, Lewis nonetheless has a lot to supply his group no matter his age. Statistically Lewis nonetheless stays up close to the highest of the checklist. In seventeen seasons Lewis has received a number of particular person awards in addition to group awards throughout his time within the NFL. Lewis has been chosen to 13 pro-bowl appearances in his seventeen 12 months profession.
Primarily the pro-bowl is a nation large vote on what gamers go to an all-star recreation, the gamers who’re chosen are deemed the perfect at their place throughout that 12 months. Lewis has additionally been chosen as the perfect defensive participant in soccer in two of these seasons, which earned him the Defensive Participant of the Yr award in 2000 and 2003. In 2000, the Baltimore Ravens lead by Lewis have been underdogs within the greatest recreation of the 12 months, the Superbowl. The Baltimore Ravens received that recreation 34-7 over the New York Giants to clinch the right finish to their season. Lewis grew to become solely the second linebacker to win the MVP award for his efficiency in that recreation.
Including to his assortment of particular person awards was the last word award of Nationwide champions after profitable the Superbowl. Since 1996 Lewis has began 228 common season video games and 17 playoff video games. In these 228 video games he has recorded 2,061 tackles, 41 sacks (instances tackled the Quarterback), 31 interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns. These numbers are a transparent consultant of how dominant Ray could be on the sphere in addition to what an extended and highly effective profession he has had to this point. Not solely do these numbers say that he has had an awesome profession, but it surely reveals that Lewis has credibility behind every thing he says on and off the sphere.
Earlier than entering into the management types of Ray Lewis, I need to present a historic background of him with a view to give a quick concept of Ray’s childhood and the place he got here from. Ray Anthony Lewis was born on Might 15th 1975 in Bartow, which is a small metropolis in Central Florida. His mom Sunseria Smith, had Ray at a really early age of 15. His father walked out on each Ray and his mom whereas they have been within the hospital with out his new born child even having a reputation. The primary time he ever noticed his father nose to nose was when Ray was simply shy of a 12 months previous. The abandoning of Ray by his father performed an incredible position and had a big influence on his life because the time glided by. He believes his fathers absence in his life really helped formed him as a person and made him the character that he’s at this time.
Rising up, Ray witnessed many issues in life that effected him individually in a method that may alter the trail of his life. Because the years went on, Ray nonetheless and not using a father, started to play sports activities as a child. He discovered his calling in soccer when he was instructed by a number of coaches that he had a pure expertise and was extraordinarily gifted. The issue was that Ray had nobody to inform at residence.
His mom was continuously working, she maintained three jobs to maintain the home over their head and meals on the desk. Each time he did one thing nice in life his father was by no means there. When he graduated from highschool, his father was nonetheless not there. When he accepted a scholarship to Miami College within the spring of 1993, his father but once more failed to point out his son Help. The rationale that is essential and related to Ray’s traits of a very good high quality chief is as a result of it’s the spark behind his motivation.
“I used to be pissed off” was the reply Lewis gave the interviewer when requested how he felt about his scenario along with his father (E:60. Ray Lewis, 2012). He defined how his fathers absence in his childhood angered him, and confused him. He typically questioned how somebody may create life and simply depart it behind like nothing ever occurred. The ache that Ray was receiving from all of the damaged guarantees, lack of time spent along with his father, and being the one man in the home rising up was all become a constructive power for him. The rationale that his father is a well-liked subject to this point is due to how he created the person that Ray Lewis relies on the actual fact he left him alone. “I turned ache into my buddy. The one ever approach to defeat ache, is to acknowledge that ache exists.
That’s the one ever method you’ll beat ache. As a result of ache is available in each second of our lives” (A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis, 2011). What he meant by turning ache into his buddy was that he would use that “ache” that his father bestowed upon him to inspire and drive himself each day by understanding. “Typically I might do pushups and situps till I cried as a result of I wished to beat him so dangerous! I wouldn’t cease, I promised myself I might by no means cease” (A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis, 2011).
A lot of Ray’s success in coaching got here from the drive he had from the ache he suffered. When he was in highschool one among his coaches handed him a yearbook and instructed him to show to the sports activities web page. On that web page was an image of Ray’s father Ernie. The subsequent web page had an inventory of information for each sport, within the primary slot for document holders was Ray’s fathers identify. He made a promise to himself that he wouldn’t cease coaching, he would by no means hand over it doesn’t matter what, and he would proceed to combat by means of the ache till his fathers identify was gone off of these information. Each time he took over a document, he crossed his fathers identify off of the document checklist.
The previous of Ray Lewis is the explanation for why he’s the chief that he’s at this time. Rising up with a single mom, Ray witnessed his mom in lots of damaged relationships. As a toddler, there have been a number of events the place Ray noticed his mom with bruised arms, black eyes, reduce up faces and different indicators of home abuse from failed relationship. One other motivation he had for working so onerous was to make it possible for “No man, ever, ever put his palms on my mom once more or household once more” (A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis, 2011).
This mentality Ray had would proceed on for the remainder of his life. He developed the abilities obligatory for fulfilling the management position at a really early age. All of this makes it very simple to see as to why Ray Lewis has developed the traits obligatory for being an unbiased, reliable, by no means going to stop, onerous working, and passionate particular person. I may go on and on about traits, advantage, and different good qualities Ray possesses and we’ll ultimately get there. The subsequent a part of this paper goes to look at Ray within the trendy period, and take a look at his management types and why they’re so efficient in addition to look at the probabilities as to why he’s so properly revered as a frontrunner.
“I’m a pure born chief” Ray admits, he continuously reminds those who in the event that they comply with him he’ll take them to greatness (America’s Recreation: 2000 Baltimore Ravens). This part will focus totally on management, and why Ray is a good instance of exemplary management and what types he makes use of for main his group. The primary type of Ray that will likely be talked about is his skill to guide by instance. Such a management in response to the EIL module is taken into account “modelling the way in which” which basically means paving the trail for teammate’s and/or the group by main by instance.
Within the Nationwide Soccer League gamers are thought of the perfect of the perfect at what they do, being assured is hardly a problem, however being the perfect doesn’t essentially imply that they work or play like they’re the perfect. Primarily what I imply is that it is vitally simple for people who find themselves good at one thing to not assume that they should proceed working to get higher. But it is vitally onerous to not give 100% at one thing when your complete environment of the group is doing the identical factor.
Nevertheless, when there’s that one one who is continually making an attempt to outwork everybody and by no means settles for something lower than 100% it is vitally troublesome for everything of the group and/or group to proceed slacking or not giving it their finest effort. Such a chief forces to individuals to need to do properly by persistently working to the perfect of their skills and by no means quitting. When speaking about Lewis and his skill to guide you will need to take a look at how he handles conditions of adversity. Each particular person, group, and group has at one level of their existence confronted a matter of adversity or been in some scenario the place they needed to climb their method out of a wrestle.
The 12 months 2000, marked a significant transition in Ray Lewis’ life. That 12 months Ray was dealing with adversity as a person for he was accused of homicide after his involvement in a bar combat one Saturday night time (Past the Glory 2004). The costs have been dropped and Ray was thought of wrongfully accused, nonetheless, though confirmed harmless this nonetheless didn’t Help his picture in any method, form or kind. Those that knew Ray closest knew he was not about violence and by no means believed it was true. That 12 months the Ravens have been enjoying an away recreation in opposition to the Tennessee Titans. Ray Lewis was being launched and as he was coming by means of the tunnel the followers have been yelling vulgar, offensive, and racist feedback in direction of him.
They have been shouting “You black son of a bitch” and different racial slurs in direction of Lewis. His group mate Trent Dilfer famous that the way in which Lewis reacted to that was wonderful, he didn’t act out of anger or say something again. He merely proved to his group that it doesn’t matter what somebody says to you “you all the time have to maneuver on” and by no means cease preventing. Lewis did simply that, he used what these followers have been yelling at him and turned it into constructive power, main the Ravens to a victory over the Titans that recreation (Americas Recreation: 2000 Baltimore Ravens).
The group had his again, and as soon as they noticed how Lewis was transitioning the negativity right into a constructive they adopted his lead. Lewis was recognized for making a declare and backing it up. He would continuously repeat himself about how he’s going to win this recreation for his group, so long as they comply with his lead and have his again as a result of he’ll all the time have theirs. He would by no means enable himself to fail on the sphere, he would again up all of his phrases with actions and that made him an efficient particular person that folks may put their belief in. He did simply that, in 2000 he led the league with 137 recorded tackles, three interceptions, and three sacks (LLC 2000).
The significance of main by instance goes hand in hand with the people skill to be an influential, motivation, and inspirational one as properly. This management type is also referred to as “encouraging the center.” This type of management is definitely what Lewis is most recognized for, the way in which he can encourage his teammate’s with phrases of knowledge and phrases of reality. Lewis can seize the minds of a lot of his group by merely speaking to them. He allows individuals to need to do properly and provides them a complete new confidence that mentally prepares them for one thing essential. Anytime that Lewis felt his group was changing into shy of hope, and shedding religion, he can be the one to get them again up on their ft and make them consider nothing is inconceivable.
Earlier than each recreation Ray gathers his teammate’s collectively to offer them with psychological power. Often he begins by telling them that they need to by no means accept something lower than their finest. He all the time reminds them why they’re the place they’re at this time, and the way they should make the most of each alternative that seems. He continuously reminds them that he will likely be there for them when they’re in a second of despair. Any time they’re feeling like they can not transfer on they are going to be reignited with him giving it his all. “I’m not telling you one thing for the advantage of myself, I’m telling you one thing for the advantage of us” (America’s Recreation: 2000 Baltimore Ravens).
The intriguing factor about Lewis is that he understands when it’s time to speak, and when it’s time no pay attention. As credible of a participant he’s, Lewis nonetheless respects each time his coaches or gamers have one thing to say. “Probably the most stunning issues I’ve found about Ray upon first assembly him was how quiet he actually is. Lewis not often opens his mouth and is often discovered within the background quietly watching and observing every thing that goes on in a gathering. Correctly, Lewis could be very selective about when he chooses to ship a vocal message. However when he does, everybody listens” (Riddle, 2012). These instances that he chooses to open his mouth he delivers highly effective messages that drive individuals to consider in one thing better than what they assume they see.
The next passage is a speech given by Ray Lewis to his group and coaches within the resort an evening earlier than their AFC championship recreation: “We’ve got been right here earlier than, we achieved been right here three years in a row! N’ we let this time without work the hook. Just be sure you personal it tonight and don’t allow them to take you away from this second man! Cuz that is all we obtained. That’s what ya’ll don’t understand more often than not, that we gonna get this once more. We gonna get this once more, the automotive runs too quick. That’s why we obtained to savour these moments cuz of proper now. I couldn’t perceive that after I was 24 and 25. That’s why God needed to incarcerate me so I may see how nice my blessing was that he gave me. So I needed to come from a jail being in place, to then step onto a Superbowl podium man.
I don’t do that for me, I simply watch sufficient movie in order that I can put myself in place to make my defence the perfect rattling defence in soccer. That’s why I come again yearly. We aren’t letting this group get out of right here this time. That’s what we right here for, a W! And once we get off the bus tomorrow, we get off it with a swagger, a swagger that claims.. Finished!” Lewis was recognized for his “we not me” mentality that impressed many individuals to need to play with him, for him, and for the group. A definite story stood out about this man. It was a the start of a brand new season, Lewis and the Ravens have been about to take the sphere. Patiently ready of their locker room stalls, nervous and anxious, all of those gamers have one aim in thoughts, to win the sport.
Swiftly, simply minutes earlier than it was time. Lewis stands up, and pulls out a bottle of what appears to be like to be muscle reliever of some kind. He begins to go as much as each single particular person in that locker room. One after the other he dabs his finger on this bottle, and briefly touches every particular person on the top. As he’s doing so he’s whispering one thing totally different to every of his teammate’s. What he’s doing is actually blessing all of his teammate’s. He’s praying for his or her security and braveness. “It was as if he injected each man in that locker room with synthesized braveness” (Riddle, 2012). This extremely motivated his group, a brand new discovered inspiration was giving to his teammate’s that night time.
This occasion touched a lot of Lewis’ teammate’s in many various methods. All of them believed that they have been one unit, one group, one household, as a result of that they had a father and mentor that they knew would all the time hold them protected. Lewis is well-known for encouraging the hearts of different gamers, making them really feel able to succeeding. He’s particularly efficient when the morale of the group is at a low as a result of he feeds off of his gamers feelings, he understands find out how to inspire his teammate’s each mentally and bodily.
As motivation as Ray Lewis is the checklist of qualities and types doesn’t finish at motivational. One of the crucial stand out types and traits of a person chief is his or her skill to encourage a group primarily based on a imaginative and prescient. That is one type that Lewis takes to coronary heart and is exceptionally nice at doing. He has the power to encourage a group primarily based off a shared imaginative and prescient, which is his imaginative and prescient that evokes the remainder of the group. Ray Lewis is know for his ardour for the sport, and a fair greater ardour for being the absolute best particular person he could be as a person of God. This mentality additionally influences how he thinks as an athlete. Not too long ago, he was requested to take part in an interview with corridor of fame participant Deion Sanders in the course of the playoffs. Ray requested them if they might maintain off till subsequent week insinuating that his group will win the upcoming recreation and transfer on to the following spherical of the playoffs.
“Some name it cockiness, I name it confidence” the 2 chuckled over Ray’s remarks due to how assured he was in his group to achieve success. Ray’s mentality was easy, he claimed that he was by no means in it to fail. “See I’m not going to lose, I’m not in it to lose. That’s only a reality. I by no means strap up my helmet to go lose. And truthfully, that’s a imaginative and prescient. And that’s the factor, get all people seeing that very same imaginative and prescient.. and in case you do, man that’s tough beating a person with a imaginative and prescient, beating a person who see’s one thing” (Past the Glory 2004). This mentality Ray had acknowledged would go on a lot additional than simply phrases that he considered on the spot.
He preaches to his group about being one unit, pondering a like, having the identical thoughts set day in and time out, as a result of if that’s the case then they honestly will likely be unstoppable. He preaches about being “one coronary heart beat, one thoughts” and that basically implies that they reside and die as one, there isn’t any people. Primarily, if one particular person makes a mistake everyone seems to be accountable, and this went for off the sphere conditions in addition to on the sphere choices as properly. Lewis impressed his group to be sensible, play with one another, and particularly most significantly be taught to like one another. Lewis stated that if you’re not enjoying for one another than you’ll by no means quantity to something nice.
It’s extra helpful to play selfless than to play selfishly. Cause being is as a result of his complete imaginative and prescient is that “the one path to success, is the one which we take collectively. There isn’t a different method. If all of us consider in the identical factor and have the identical imaginative and prescient, then we’ll actually be highly effective, and nobody can take that away from us.” (A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis 2011). In 2011, Ray suffered a damaged toe harm that sidelined him for a number of weeks.
As a substitute of performing upset like how most athletes act, he as a substitute used the adversity and turned it right into a constructive for his teammates.“Adversity defines true character. If one among us is hurting, the opposite half gotta choose it up” That is the message he instructed his group the next recreation whereas he was speaking to them earlier than their recreation. He emphasizes that having a group consider in the identical aim will in the end advance a program and group to new heights, with a view to achieve success all have to be on board when making the best decisions for conducting a aim.
These varieties of management talked about earlier on this paper really praise the following type which is difficult the method. This type principally means by no means settling for something. At all times going after goal. When one aim is achieved, one other one is added to the board. Lewis is a agency believer that there’s just one method, and that’s up. And there’ll proceed to solely be one up till he stops enjoying the sport when he retires. After Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens received the championship in 2000, Lewis was speaking about it’s nice to rejoice, however different groups are already coaching to take down the Baltimore Ravens subsequent 12 months, and their aim is be proper there at their very second once more (America’s Recreation: 2000 Baltimore Ravens).
Even in his exercises it’s evident that he continues to push himself handed his limits as a result of settling for mediocre and at a sure stage will not be what makes a person nice. Rising up, each accomplishment Ray ever had he would all the time inform himself that it isn’t sufficient. He wished extra, and he would proceed to make new objectives after each one was achieved. This mentality would profit his profession as an expert.
He repeatedly emphasizes the significance of onerous work, and can. The need to maintain going when every thing is sweet can typically be harder then when every thing is dangerous. When one thing goes properly you are likely to assume you’re doing alright and don’t have to hold striving for extra, Lewis understands that if so then he won’t ever be actually as nice as he may very well be if he believes that’s true.
A Question Assignment that usually rises when speaking about Ray Lewis is the place does all this power and motivation come from? What’s he like exterior the sport of soccer? Properly, as was talked about earlier Lewis has come from a damaged residence, fatherless, with a mom who was full time working two totally different jobs. His childhood is what fueled him to be nice. Particularly with conditions akin to home violence that Ray noticed a really younger age it’s no Question Assignment the place his motivation to be a very good particular person comes from.
When his father left him he couldn’t grasp an understanding as to why a father would bail like that on his new born child. “Why cant a daddy be a daddy to a toddler who had no option to be right here at this time, why would somebody depart that youngster.” (A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis 2011). This was the explanation why he not having a dad developed Ray’s mindset. “I didn’t know who to name daddy,” he labored due to that, he used to cry throughout exercises due to that mindset that, ache is nothing.
Ray Lewis at this time has six kids of his personal “four kings, and two queens, and I’ve by no means had a better push in my life than to see my kids smile.” ( A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis 2011). This alongside facet most of the individuals he met later in life would go on to be a motive why he’s the person that he’s at this time. Ray obtained concerned with a person who was affected by a illness that was life threatening.
Invoice Warble was Lewis’ greatest fan, an aged man who promise Ray he wouldn’t depart this earth till they received one other championship. Ray says that he owes Invoice his life. He taught him a beneficial lesson on life, which contributed a lot to his reasoning as a frontrunner and find out how to act. Invoice Warble had taught him “what to complain about, what to not complain about, what to not be unhappy about, what to be glad, unhappy, mad and comfortable about.” (A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis 2011). This modified his perspective on life for the higher as Lewis started to see issues in his personal life lots clearer.
Ray Lewis will go down in historical past as one of many biggest linebacker’s to ever play within the Nationwide Soccer League, together with that declare he will even go down as the most effective chief’s on any sports activities group as properly. For all who’ve performed with him, obtained an opportunity to fulfill him, knew him exterior of the sport, all of these individuals knew the actual Ray Lewis and what he was able to doing. “He was actually an inspiration and it was a pleasure to play alongside facet Ray” (Riddle, 2011). Whether or not the group win’s or loses, Ray isn’t taking credit score or inserting the blame on anybody. He’ll without end reside by his “one coronary heart beat, one thoughts” mentality and can without end influence the lives of those that obtained an opportunity to play alongside facet him.
After their AFC championship loss in 2011 Ray was getting interviewed by reporters about what had occurred. He obtained upset with the reporters for hinting in direction of the loss being solely on one participant.“What you gonna do put that loss on two males? Oh, Evans ought to have caught the ball, oh Billy ought to have made the kick. Properly, perhaps I ought to have made that deal with within the third quarter. So something may value you, so there isn’t any one person who you possibly can ever put blame on. We got here right here as a group, we locked and loaded as a group, let’s be certain that we depart as a group.” (A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis 2011).
He went on after the sport to inform his teammates in prayer that they did what they needed to do, that subsequent 12 months that they had to verify they completed. He instructed his group it’s no ones fault however their group mixed effort. Nobody particular person will get the blame. He stored the morale as excessive up as he may with a view to hold his group motivated for the next season, that this loss ought to burn into their reminiscences for subsequent 12 months. Use it as gas, flip that destructive power into one thing helpful. “Let’s perceive ourselves as males, and make any individual smile once we stroll out of right here” (A Soccer Life: Ray Lewis 2011). That is Ray Lewis, his influence and his legacy.
“We get one alternative in life, one probability at life to do no matter you’re going to do, and lay your basis and make no matter mark you’re going to make. No matter legacy you’re going to depart, depart your legacy!” — Ray Lewis
Sources:
Sabol, Ed. 2000. Ravens Street to the Superbowl (Documentary). NFL Movies. United States. Sabol, Ed. 2011. A Soccer Life. “Ray Lewis” (Documentary). NFL Movies. United States. Farrey, T. Nichols, R. Schaap, J. Smith, S. 2012. E:60 Ray Lewis (Interview). ESPN. United States. N.A. 2004. Past the Glory. “Ray Lewis” Season four, ep. 9. (Documentary). United States. Riddle, Ryan. August seventh 2012. Bleacher Report (Article). Net. December 4th 2012.