Ray Lewis Leadership Essay

A break dismantleer is a some sensationness who has the ability to lead or command an entire group of large number, a drawing card is mortal who is fol beginninged by unused(prenominal) masses. cosmos a leader is a winderful privilege, it is something that is non necessarily circulateed to an idiosyncraticist nor is it something that spacious deal be bought, leadership is something that is acquire. This entire course we fetch been instruction roughly and discussing various char achievementeristics of telling leaders. Some of those characteristics include confidence, charisma, courage, touchwood, pers for invariablyance, and among some opposites. This paper go forth focus mainly on whizz individual who exemplifies these traits and umteen other characteristics which contri notwithstandinges p separatelyyly to his success as a leader. The per boy that has been selected for the basis of this paper is give bulge Lewis, a xii division pro-bowl selection line backer from the Baltimore Ravens.The reason I shake up chosen Lewis for this paper is because of the qualities he has as a leader non exactly on the touching field, but sour of it as inti plane sectionner absently. He is what I weigh to be the asideflank and some pauperismal and sacred sham in the issue Footb in whole League at present, maybe fifty-fifty solely sports. The object of this paper is to elaborate on Lewis characteristics and go into through an explanation of his leadership elbow room and why they are effective.This paper result begin by heavy(p)(p) an in depth abbreviation of radiotherapy. After the analysis it lead past stir up into discussing slams styles of leadership. After talking active Lewis styles it go away then begin red through all his characteristics as a leader and what makes him stand out as a leader, in other address, I leave explain why shine Lewis is such a powerful and effective leader and the reason he sta nds out to heap other than his scheme. glow Lewis is a professional football pushoverer who is currently in his 17th season p get down for the Baltimore Ravens in the scale football League. Lewis, born(p) on may fifteenth 1975, ranks him amongst whizz of the oldest current players in the league. Even at age thirty-seven Lewis manages to still be 1ness of the near dominant forces in the impale today even while competing with and once mo await ath permites who are nearly half(a) of his age. Seasoned but experienced, Lewis still has such(prenominal) to introduce his squad regardless of his age. Statisti forestally Lewis still mud up near the top of the list. In 17 seasons Lewis has won fourfold individual awards as easy as squad awards during his sentence in the NFL. Lewis has been selected to thirteen pro-bowl appearances in his seventeen year course.fundamentally the pro-bowl is a nation wide vote on what players go to an all-star game, the players who are s elected are deemed the outmatch at their assign during that year. Lewis has a desire been selected as the best defensive player in football in two of those seasons, which earned him the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2000 and 2003. In 2000, the Baltimore Ravens lead by Lewis were underdogs in the biggest game of the year, the Superbowl. The Baltimore Ravens won that game 34-7 over the New York Giants to clutch the perfect supplant to their season. Lewis became only the second linebacker to take in the MVP award for his performance in that game.Adding to his collection of individual awards was the ultimate award of subject area champions after(prenominal) winning the Superbowl. Since 1996 Lewis has started 228 regular season games and 17 playoff games. In those 228 games he has us here(predicate)d 2,061 tackles, 41 sacks ( judgment of convictions tackled the Quarterback), 31 interceptions, and 3 defensive touchd avouchs. These numbers are a clear representative of how dominant give out provoke be on the field as sound as what a long and powerful career he has had thus far. Not only do these numbers say that he has had a great career, but it shows that Lewis has credibility fag allthing he says on and off the field.Before obtainting into the leadership styles of scape Lewis, I want to provide a historical background of him in target to give a brief idea of radiates puerility and where he came from. re Anthony Lewis was born on May 15th 1975 in Bartow, which is a small urban center in Central Florida. His set out Sunseria Smith, had give out at a very early age of 15. His conceal out paseoed out on both electron beam and his mother while they were in the hospital without his new born baby even having a name. The first period he ever saw his overprotect memorial tablet to face was when shot was just shy of a year old. The abandoning of irradiate by his father vie a tremendous lineament and had a hulky impact on his smell as the time went by. He believes his fathers absence in his feel very helped habitusd him as a man and make him the character that he is today. growing up, rotating shaft witnessed umpteen things in livelihood that effected him individually in a instruction that would alter the channel of his life. As the years went on, Ray still without a father, began to play sports as a kid. He base his profession in football when he was told by ten-fold coaches that he had a raw(a) talent and was passing gifted. The problem was that Ray had no one to name at home.His mother was evermore campaigning, she maintained 3 jobs to keep the admit over their head and intellectual nourishment on the table. Every time he did something great in life his father was neer in that location. When he graduated from broad(prenominal) school, his father was still not thither. When he accepted a scholarship to Miami University in the recoil of 1993, his father yet again failed to show his s on support. The reason this is essential and relevant to Rays characteristics of a peachy quality leader is because it is the visible light behind his motivation.I was pissed off was the fare Lewis gave the interviewer when asked how he felt round his situation with his father (E60. Ray Lewis, 2012). He explained how his fathers absence in his childishness angered him, and conf apply him. He often wondered how someone could create life and just leave it behind like nothing ever happened. The hand that Ray was receiving from all the d consume(p) promises, lack of time fatigued with his father, and beingness the only man in the house growing up was all perverted into a positive energy for him. The reason that his father is a popular topic thus far is because of how he created the man that Ray Lewis is based on the position he go away him alone. I minuteed pain into my friend. The only ever elan to defeat pain, is to cope that pain exists.Thats the only ever way you go away beat pain. Because pain comes in any second of our lives (A football Life Ray Lewis, 2011). What he meant by turning pain into his friend was that he would use that pain that his father bestowed upon him to motivate and contract himself every day by works out. sometimes I would do pushups and situps until I cried because I cute to beat him so bad I wouldnt stop, I promised myself I would neer stop (A football game Life Ray Lewis, 2011).Much of Rays success in training came from the drive he had from the pain he suffered. When he was in highschool one of his coaches handed him a yearbook and told him to turn to the sports page. On that page was a picture of Rays father Ernie. The contiguous page had a list of records for every sport, in the number one slot for record holders was Rays fathers name. He make a promise to himself that he wouldnt stop training, he would never give up no point what, and he would continue to s go underter through the pain until his fathers name was gone off of those records. Every time he took over a record, he crossed his fathers name off of the record list.The past of Ray Lewis is the reason for why he is the leader that he is today. Growing up with a single mother, Ray witnessed his mother in some broken relationships. As a child, there were multiple occasions where Ray saw his mother with bruised arms, inexorable eyes, cut up faces and other signs of domestic ill-treatment from failed relationship. Another motivation he had for working so hard was to make authentic that No man, ever, ever invest his hands on my mother again or family again (A football Life Ray Lewis, 2011).This encephalon Ray had would continue on for the rest of his life. He developed the skills necessary for fulfilling the leadership role at a very early age. completely of this makes it very easy to see as to why Ray Lewis has developed the characteristics necessary for being an independent, trustworthy, never going to quit, hard working, and offenseate individual. I could go on and on about characteristics, virtue, and other unspoilt qualities Ray possesses and we will eventually get there. The next part of this paper is going to examine Ray in the modern era, and look at his leadership styles and why they are so effective as healthful as examine the possibilities as to why he is so well respected as a leader.Im a natural born leader Ray admits, he constantly re top dogs people that if they follow him he will incur them to greatness (Americas adventure 2000 Baltimore Ravens). This section will focus primarily on leadership, and why Ray is a great example of exemplary leadership and what styles he uses for leadership his organization. The first style of Ray that will be mentioned is his ability to lead by example. This case of leadership according to the EIL module is considered good example the way which essentially means paving the path for matchs and/or the organization by leading by example.In the Nation al Football League players are considered the best of the best at what they do, being confident is hardly an issue, but being the best does not necessarily mean that they work or play like they are the best. Essentially what I mean is that it is very easy for people who are good at something to not theorize that they engage to continue working to get better. unless it is very hard to not give a hundred percent at something when the entire automated teller machine of the organization is doing the resembling thing.However, when there is that one individual who is constantly trying to outwork everyone and never settles for anything less than a hundred percent it is very heavy for the sum of the team and/or organization to continue shirk or not natural endowment it their best effort. This type of leader forces to people to want to do well by consistently working to the best of their abilities and never quitting. When talking about Lewis and his ability to lead it is importan t to look at how he handles situations of adversity. Every somebody, team, and organization has at one point in their globe faced a matter of adversity or been in some situation where they had to climb their way out of a struggle.The year 2000, marked a major transition in Ray Lewis life. That year Ray was facing adversity as an individual for he was acc employ of murder after his involvement in a bar fight one Saturday darkness (Beyond the Glory 2004). The charges were dropped and Ray was considered wrongfully accused, however, even though proven innocent this still did not help his image in any way, shape or form. Those who knew Ray closest knew he was not about delirium and never believed it was true. That year the Ravens were contend an out game against the Tennessee Titans. Ray Lewis was being introduced and as he was coming through the tunnel the fans were cry vulgar, offensive, and racist comments towards him.They were shouting You black son of a bitch and other racial slurs towards Lewis. His team mate Trent Dilfer noted that the way Lewis reacted to that was amazing, he did not act out of anger or say anything back. He simply proved to his team that no matter what someone says to you you always mother to move on and never stop fighting. Lewis did just that, he used what these fans were yelling at him and turned it into positive energy, leading the Ravens to a victory over the Titans that game (Americas Game 2000 Baltimore Ravens).The team had his back, and once they saw how Lewis was transitioning the negativity into a positive they followed his lead. Lewis was know for do a conduct and backing it up. He would constantly repeat himself about how he is going to win this game for his team, as long as they follow his lead and have his back because he will always have theirs. He would never allow himself to fail on the field, he would back up all of his course with actions and that made him an effective individual that people could put their tr ust in. He did just that, in 2000 he led the league with 137 recorded tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 sacks (LLC 2000).The enormousness of leading by example goes hand in hand with the individuals ability to be an influential, motivation, and inspirational one as well. This leadership style is overly known as encouraging the heart. This style of leadership is actually what Lewis is most known for, the way he can urge his teammates with words of wisdom and words of truth. Lewis can capture the minds of many of his team by simply talking to them. He enables people to want to do well and gives them a whole new confidence that mentally prepares them for something important. some(prenominal)time that Lewis felt his team was becoming shy of hope, and losing faith, he would be the one to get them back up on their feet and make them believe nothing is impossible.Before every game Ray gathers his teammates unneurotic to provide them with mental energy. Usually he begins by telling them that they should never settle for anything less than their best. He always reminds them why they are where they are today, and how they indispensability to take advantage of every opportunity that appears. He constantly reminds them that he will be there for them when they are in a moment of despair. Any time they are feeling like they cannot move on they will be reignited with him giving it his all. I am not telling you something for the benefit of myself, I am telling you something for the benefit of us (Americas Game 2000 Baltimore Ravens).The intriguing thing about Lewis is that he envisions when it is time to talk, and when it is time no listen. As plausible of a player he is, Lewis still reckon every time his coaches or players have something to say. The most surprising things I have discovered about Ray upon first meeting him was how quiet he currently is. Lewis rarely devotes his mouth and is usually found in the background quietly watching and observe everything tha t goes on in a meeting. Wisely, Lewis is very selective about when he chooses to deliver a song message. But when he does, everyone listens (Riddle, 2012). Those times that he chooses to open his mouth he delivers powerful messages that force people to believe in something greater than what they ideate they see.The followers passage is a speech given by Ray Lewis to his team and coaches in the hotel a night onwards their AFC championship game We have been here before, we done been here 3 years in a row N we let this time off the hook. Make sure that you own it this night and do not let them take you away from this moment man Cuz this is all we got. Thats what yall dont realize most of the time, that we gonna get this again. We gonna get this again, the car runs too fast. Thats why we got to scag these moments cuz of right now. I couldnt understand that when I was 24 and 25. Thats why God had to incarcerate me so I could see how great my blessing was that he gave me. So I had to come from a jail being in position, to then join onto a Superbowl podium man.I dont do this for me, I just watch overflowing film so that I can put myself in position to make my defence the best damn defence in football. Thats why I come back every year. We are not letting this team get out of here this time. Thats what we here for, a W And when we get off the bus tomorrow, we get off it with a swagger, a swagger that says.. Done Lewis was known for his we not me mentality that inspired many people to want to play with him, for him, and for the team. A distinct bilgewater stood out about this man. It was a the beginning of a new season, Lewis and the Ravens were about to take the field. Patiently waiting in their footlocker room stalls, nervous and anxious, all of these players have one goal in mind, to win the game.All of a sudden, just minutes before it was time. Lewis stands up, and pulls out a bottle of what looks to be muscle builder reliever of some sort. He begins to go up to every single person in that locker room. One by one he dabs his hitch in this bottle, and briefly touches each individual on the head. As he is doing so he is mouth something unlike to each of his teammates. What he is doing is essentially blessing all of his teammates. He is praying for their refuge and courage. It was as if he injected every man in that locker room with synthesized courage (Riddle, 2012). This highly incite his team, a new found inspiration was giving to his teammates that night.This event touched many of Lewis teammates in many different ways. They all believed that they were one unit, one team, one family, because they had a father and mentor that they knew would always keep them safe. Lewis is well known for encouraging the hearts of other players, making them feel capable of succeeding. He is especially effective when the morale of the team is at a low because he feeds off of his players emotions, he understands how to motivate his teammates both mentally and physically.As motivation as Ray Lewis is the list of qualities and styles does not end at motivational. One of the most stand out styles and characteristics of an individual leader is his or her ability to inspire a team based on a vision. This is one style that Lewis takes to heart and is exceptionally great at doing. He has the ability to inspire a team based off a divided vision, which is his vision that inspires the rest of the organization. Ray Lewis is know for his passion for the game, and an even bigger passion for being the best possible person he can be as a man of God. This mentality also influences how he thinks as an athlete. Recently, he was asked to participate in an interview with hall of fame player Deion Sanders during the playoffs. Ray asked them if they could hold off until next week insinuating that his team will win the upcoming game and move on to the next round of the playoffs.Some call it cockiness, I call it confidence the two chuckled over R ays remarks because of how confident he was in his team to be successful. Rays mentality was simple, he claimed that he was never in it to fail. See Im not going to lose, Im not in it to lose. Thats just a fact. I never strap up my helmet to go lose. And honestly, thats a vision. And thats the thing, get everybody eyesight that same vision.. and if you do, man thats rough whipstitching a man with a vision, beating a man who sees something (Beyond the Glory 2004). This mentality Ray had stated would go on much further than just words that he eyeshot of on the spot.He preaches to his team about being one unit, thinking a like, having the same mind set day in and day out, because if that is the case then they sincerely will be unstoppable. He preaches about being one heart beat, one mind and that essentially means that they live and give out as one, there is no individuals. Essentially, if one person makes a mistake everyone is accountable, and this went for off the field situatio ns as well as on the field decisions as well. Lewis inspired his team to be smart, play with each other, and especially most importantly learn to cut each other. Lewis said that if you are not playing for each other than you will never amount to anything great.It is more beneficial to play selfless than to play selfishly. Reason being is because his whole vision is that the only path to success, is the one that we take together. There is no other way. If we all believe in the same thing and have the same vision, then we will truly be powerful, and no one can take that away from us. (A Football Life Ray Lewis 2011). In 2011, Ray suffered a broken toe injury that sidelined him for several weeks.Instead of acting upset like how most athletes act, he instead used the adversity and turned it into a positive for his teammates. reverse defines true character. If one of us is hurting, the other part gotta pick it up This is the message he told his team the following game while he was talk ing to them before their game. He emphasizes that having a team believe in the same goal will lastly advance a program and organization to new heights, in order to be successful all must be on board when making the right choices for accomplishing a goal.Those types of leadership mentioned earlier in this paper actually compliment the next style which is challenging the process. This style basically means never settling for anything. Always going after target. When one goal is accomplished, another one is added to the board. Lewis is a dissipated believer that there is only one way, and that is up. And there will continue to only be one up until he stops playing the game when he retires. After Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens won the championship in 2000, Lewis was talking about it is great to celebrate, but other teams are already training to take down the Baltimore Ravens next year, and their goal is be right there at their very moment again (Americas Game 2000 Baltimore Ravens).Eve n in his workouts it is evident that he continues to push himself passed his limits because settling for mediocre and at a certain level is not what makes an individual great. Growing up, every accomplishment Ray ever had he would always tell himself that it isnt enough. He cute more, and he would continue to make new goals after every one was accomplished. This mentality would benefit his career as a professional.He continuously emphasizes the importance of hard work, and will. The will to keep going when everything is good can often be more difficult then when everything is bad. When something is going well you tend to think you are doing alright and do not need to keep striving for more, Lewis understands that if this is the case then he will never be truly as great as he could be if he believes that is true.A question that often rises when talking about Ray Lewis is where does all this energy and motivation come from? What is he like outside the game of football? Well, as was m entioned earlier Lewis has come from a broken home, fatherless, with a mother who was full time working two different jobs. His childhood is what fueled him to be great. Especially with situations such as domestic violence that Ray saw a very four-year-old age it is no question where his motivation to be a good person comes from.When his father left him he could not grasp an understanding as to why a father would bail like that on his new born baby. Why chamfer a public address system be a daddy to a child who had no choice to be here today, why would someone leave that child. (A Football Life Ray Lewis 2011). This was the reason why he not having a dad developed Rays mindset. I didnt know who to call daddy, he worked because of that, he used to cry during workouts because of that mindset that, pain is nothing.Ray Lewis today has six children of his own 4 kings, and two queens, and I have never had a greater push in my life than to see my children smile. ( A Football Life Ray Lew is 2011). This on side many of the people he met later in life would go on to be a reason why he is the man that he is today. Ray got involved with an individual who was suffering from a disease that was life threatening. news report waver was Lewis biggest fan, an elderly man who promise Ray he would not leave this earth until they won another championship. Ray says that he owes Bill his life. He taught him a valuable lesson on life, which contributed much to his conclude as a leader and how to act. Bill Warble had taught him what to complain about, what not to complain about, what not to be sad about, what to be glad, sad, mad and happy about. (A Football Life Ray Lewis 2011). This changed his perspective on life for the better as Lewis began to see things in his own life a lot clearer.Ray Lewis will go down in history as one of the greatest linebackers to ever play in the National Football League, along with that claim he will also go down as one of the best leaders on any spo rts team as well. For all who have played with him, got a determine to meet him, knew him outside of the game, all of those people knew the real Ray Lewis and what he was capable of doing. He was truly an inspiration and it was a pleasure to play along side Ray (Riddle, 2011). Whether the team wins or loses, Ray is never taking assign or placing the blame on anyone. He will incessantly live by his one heart beat, one mind mentality and will forever impact the lives of those who got a chance to play along side him.After their AFC championship dismission in 2011 Ray was getting interviewed by reporters about what had happened. He got upset with the reporters for hinting towards the loss being solely on one player.What you gonna do put that loss on two men? Oh, Evans should have caught the ball, oh Billy should have made the kick. Well, maybe I should have made that tackle in the third quarter. So anything could comprise you, so there is no one person that you could ever put blame on. We came here as a team, we locked and loaded as a team, lets make sure we leave as a team. (A Football Life Ray Lewis 2011).He went on after the game to tell his teammates in prayer that they did what they had to do, that next year they had to make sure they finished. He told his team it is no ones fault but their team combined effort. No one person gets the blame. He kept the morale as high up as he could in order to keep his team motivated for the following season, that this loss should burn into their memories for next year. Use it as fuel, turn that negative energy into something useful. Lets understand ourselves as men, and make somebody smile when we walk out of here (A Football Life Ray Lewis 2011). This is Ray Lewis, his impact and his legacy.We get one opportunity in life, one chance at life to do whatever youre going to do, and lay your foundation and make whatever mark youre going to make. Whatever legacy youre going to leave, leave your legacy Ray LewisSourcesSabol , Ed. 2000. Ravens Road to the Superbowl (Documentary). NFL Films. coupled States. Sabol, Ed. 2011. A Football Life. Ray Lewis (Documentary). NFL Films. United States. Farrey, T. Nichols, R. Schaap, J. Smith, S. 2012. E60 Ray Lewis (Interview). ESPN. United States. N.A. 2004. Beyond the Glory. Ray Lewis Season 4, ep. 9. (Documentary). United States. Riddle, Ryan. 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