Remember the Titans: Managing Behavior
Both Coach Boone and Coach Yost use the path-goal model of leadership. Coach Boone uses a combination of achievement-oriented and instrumental or directive leadership, while Coach Yost demonstrates mainly a supportive style of leadership. Of the four path-goal theory leadership styles, it is not uncommon for leaders to use a mixture of more than one or all four. The nature of contingency leadership means that one or more of the different styles might be utilized to achieve goals in a path-like manner. According to Greenberg (2002), such a mixture is often the norm in the path-goal model of leadership, ôThese styles are not mutually exclusive; in fact, the same leader can adopt them at different times and in different situationsö (293).
In The Titans, Coach Boone uses a combination of leadership styles. Boone is very directive in leadership style with respect to motivating employees to achieve goals. He provides specific guidance and establishing clear and rigorous schedules and rules. In one scene we see this instrumental style of leadership combined with the achievement-oriented style when Coach Boone explains the rules with respect to football performance:
We will be perfect in every aspect. You drop a pass, you run a mile. You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile. You make a fumble, I will take you and break your John Browns and then you will run a mile. Perfection (Yakin 2000).
Later, we see Coach Boone inform the new player from California that if he cuts his hair he might get a chance to play ball.
In a scene later in the film, Coach Boone tells him to take a play on the field by saying, ôI like your haircutö (Yakin 2000). Coach Boone approaches the players the same way in order to remove the obstacle of racism and prejudice that is getting in the way of achieving team goals. He informs each player, again in a direct, instrumental manner, that each ...