Leadership Portrayed in the Film

Leadership is a central theme throughout the movie Radio. Six main characters possess direct leadership positions / qualities that identify each as unique individuals. I will commence this discussion with the secondary characters and their roles, followed by the principal characters and how they portray their leadership role.

Principal Daniels is a leader in the community of Anderson, South Carolina because of the position she holds as Principal of Hanna High. This power base is referred to as ‘Legitimate Power’, and defined in Northouse’s book, Leadership Theory and Practice (2007) as “associated with having status or formal job authority.” (p. 8) Even though she represents the legitimate power base, I feel she is more of a manager in her role as she provides order and consistency for the highschool staff and students. She handles issues of staffing, planning, organization, and budgets. Principal Daniels really does not exhibit any examples of producing change and movement as true leadership would. However, she appears to be well liked and respected in her role.

Coach Honeycutt also plays a leadership role in the movie as a sports coach. As defined by Wikipedia, a coach can be described as “an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes. Coaching entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game or contest itself.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coach_%28sport%29) Coaching in this sense is more a management function than leadership. Coach Honeycutt teaches his athletes the skills and strategies necessary to be successful in their sport. His role can be viewed as having elements of leadership because students look up to him. They value his experience and knowledge, as described by Northouse as ‘Expert Power’.

Frank Clay, the local Bank Manager also holds a position of power in the movie as does Principal Daniels. This ‘Legitimate Power’ in the form of his role as Bank Manager is coupled with a sense of the fact that if Frank Clay needed to be ‘coercive’, he could be. Therefore, I would also say that Frank would used his power, also known as ‘Coercive Power’ to meet his own agenda in terms of his son’s athletic progress. He plays somewhat of a leadership role in the community when the group meets after the football games at the barbershop to discuss how the players did. Also, Frank is the character who instigates the investigation by the school board into why Radio is at the school.

Johnny Clay is the allstar sports athlete at Hanna High. He is well liked and popular among his peers. He has a leadership role on the football and basketball teams as the star who is able to carry through for the team. In the leadership role Johnny Clay has on the sports teams of Hanna High, he also has some responsibilities that go along with it. They include “requiring a sense of leadership, sportsmanship, responsibility and dedication.” (http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/news_you_can_use/499740.html) In many instances, Johnny did not fulfill his role as leader. He actually leads his teammates into bullying and hazing actions towards Radio. He is the key character who lures radio into the girl’s locker room and gets him into trouble as a result. As did his father, I feel that Johnny Clay misused his position to coerce his teammates into inappropriate behaviour against Radio. As Northouse points out, “Leaders who use coercion are interested in their own goals and seldom are interested in the wants and needs of others.” (p. 9) This phrase clearly describes the character of Johnny Clay. He did not consider the effect of the behaviour directed on Radio himself, or on his team members who were punished as a team for the hazing incident.

Radio is a silent leader. He leads by example and the Golden Rule: “Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them do Unto You.” Throughout the movie, Radio goes about his business and does not bother anyone. He is a victim at certain points, as a result of other people mistreating him. He does not hold a grudge against them, but continues to befriend the individuals in his life. One might have the impression that Radio is exceptionally naïve, which may be a result of his having special needs. On a second occasion, when Johnny Clay sends him into the girl’s locker room to get him in trouble, Radio purposely does not ‘rat Johnny out’ when asked by Coach Jones what happened. He takes the rap for Johnny Clay, even though Coach Jones knows Radio is covering for him. Eventually, the people of Anderson, South Carolina accept and welcome Radio into the community. The nicest part of this story is that Radio is a real person, and this is a true story. You can visit the website at http://www.radioandcoachjones.com/ .

Coach Jones is an incredible human being. He works as an educator and Head Coach at Hanna Highschool. He is well liked and respected by all; fellow educators and colleagues, community members, and athletes. He has much experience in the field of Coaching. He uses both Referent and Expert Power to lead in the movie. I would say that it could almost considered reverence how he is treated by the members of the community. According to Northouse, Coach Jones holds both “position and personal power”. (p. 7) Coach Jones is a leader in his position as a coach, and by “his capacity to lead as being seen as likable and knowledgeable.” (p. 7)

Northouse defines leadership as “a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.” (p. 3) Coach Jones does just this. He produces change and movement in the community by establishing direction, aligning people, and inspiring them to change. This is done when he establishes a friendship with Radio and maintains it throughout the movie, despite questioning by family, fellow staff members, and the greater community.

Coach Jones displays situational leadership when he collects Christmas gifts for Radio by means of donations from the community. He saw the opportunity that Radio would otherwise not have many Christmas presents, and used his influence in the community to make an opportunity for him. There are many examples of situation leadership in the film, but I feel that by far, Coach Jones is a transformational leader. Northouse defines a transformational leader as “the process by which a person engages with others and creates a connection that raises the level of motivation and morality in both the leader and the follower.” (p. 176) When the movie begins, I have a feeling that Coach Jones has no idea what he has taken on. Throughout the movie, he rises to the occasion of dealing with questioning and ridicule, as well as dispelling the myths and misunderstandings held by the community about Radio in general.

Kouzes and Posner describe five fundamental practices that enable leaders to get things accomplished. I feel that Coach Jones completed these, albeit somewhat indirectly at first. The five practices include “modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, enabling others to act, and finally, encouraging the heart.” (Northouse, 2007, 189) Coach Jones took Radio in, gave him love and encouragement, helped to provide for his needs, supported him in the community, and helped to give him a purpose in life. What greater gift can one person give to another?

The Coach had a very strong set of morals and ethics. He had to face something that had very deep roots in the south; that being racial prejudice and prejudice based on disability. Northouse defines prejudice as “a largely fixed attitude, belief, or emotion held by an individual about another individual based on faulty or unsubstantiated information.” (p. 304) This was exactly the situation in Anderson, South Carolina. In order to overcome this circumstance, Coach Jones conducted himself in a way that was both ethical and character based. Northouse describes principals of ethical leadership as being “building community, respecting others, serving others, showing justice, and manifesting honesty.” (p. 350) Even though there were struggles throughout the film, the Coach was able to overcome the prejudice held by the community members, and work towards building a more humane and rewarding life for Radio.