The Conundrum of Serving Before Leading

Picture by Phil Barron

Picture by Phil Barron

In the world of high school athletics, every coach is looking for the competitive advantage. For Phil Barron, Head Football Coach/Athletic Coordinator of South San Antonio High School, his competitive advantage is his leadership style.

Servant Leadership:

Leadership comes in different forms For Barron, Servant Leadership is a style he looks to implement to maximize his reach. For a coach, lifestyle is predicated on service; but how do you magnify that template of service? According to an article written on Entrepreneur by Jefferey Hayzlett, there are 4 Principles of Servant Leadership that would not only benefit your organization, but the community it serves.

1. Encourage Diversity of Thought.

Enter Barron. This is a man that champions diversity in his actions. One of the vital characteristics of Barron is that he is a person that seeks to understand. Diversity in its truest form does not just stop at ethnicity, but continues with social-economic class, gender, sexual preference, and values.

“I want my staff to be completely diverse because that’s what you have on a team,” states Barron. Adaptability and the realization that “cookie-cutter” styles do not serve the program best. “I want all my coaches to have a voice,” said Barron. Barron has admitted that his inclusive nature has provided positive feedback in his early goings at the helm.

2. Create a Culture of Trust.

The intangible of chemistry is under constant evaluation for the Head Coach of a sport. For Barron, his initiative to lead by example has helped accelerate the trust factor. Coaching is not always glamourous. Beyond the lights of competition, there are countless hours of preparation in strategy, logistics, or maintenance.

Barron is quick to point that he “is not above any task.” “I want my guys to know I have their back in any situation,” states Barron. Imposing a great work ethic and advocating for his coaches are Barron’s foundation to build relationships. The rest is a completely authentic and organic process.

3. Have an Unselfish Mindset.

For the life of a coach, you also must mind your main job of being a teacher. For Barron, understanding the dynamics that complicate a person’s life have been the catalyst for treating his people the right way. Subbing for his assistants for a doctor’s

appointment or even an emergency has been a common practice. Nurturing friendships by springing for lunch, some cold beverages, or breakfast for the front office staff; these are essential acts of kindness that making people feel significant. Building a formidable team requires unselfish acts of all stakeholders. Coach Barron is a genuine person when it comes to his selfless ways.

4. Foster Leadership in Others.

This fourth category is critical to transcend your leadership. In the case of Barron, empowering his assistant coaches is essential to the development of their leadership.

“As a Head Coach, you have to step back and allow for your coaches to have a voice in your program,” says Barron. This process works in tandem with diversity; “I don’t want 10 Phil Barron’s or 10 Yvan Salazar’s,” “I want to have ten bad-ass dudes that every kid in my program can relate to,” states Barron.

The only way these coaches get to that “bad-ass” status that Barron craves, coaches must have the opportunity to lead in a variety of aspects within the program.

Servant Leadership is a valid style that can holistically grow your program. Putting an emphasis on your assistant coaches streamlines the opportunity to grow them as leaders, equally establishes a unified culture for all stakeholders.

Barron is in his third full season as a Head Football Coach/Athletic Coordinator, the first two years with Burbank High School. Barron is one of the youngest head coaches in the 6A classification within the South Texas Region at age 36.

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#ServantLeadership #THSCA

Zoom Interview with Phil Barron-Snippet of the Interview on Diversity. 15 Minute Session