Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Crossing the line: Leadership and Passion

There are many in the “leadership world” who believe that passionate leaders make the difference. General Patton, who has a large following among those who love and study leadership, is famous for belittling an injured solder in a hospital because he felt that the man was not really injured. Tough love as it is called can turn your group into fighters or blow it up. Tough love leaders are found in every aspect of society.

Blue Jays manager, John Gibbons, who recently skirmished with his starting pitcher, Ted Lilly, is one such character.

Gibbons, also challenged his starting infielder, Shea Hillenbrand, to a fight in July after the infielder wrote on the clubhouse bulletin board that the "ship was sinking." Hillenbrand was later traded to San Francisco.

"Ted Lilly's a great guy. Ted Lilly's an intense competitor," Hillenbrand said. "He was a great teammate when I was over there. So I'm surprised that confrontation happened with Ted Lilly."

He added: "Stuff like that's been going on all season over there. I had my issues with the manager. ... They say I'm the cancer of the team and things are still happening, so I don't know how you can make that assumption or that statement. Things like that begin to come out when times get tough."

Does this cross the line? Even in sports where athletes commonly refer to playing their sport as being in "battle", has this physical call to action and even physical confrontation too much?

Time will tell.