Hill and Vilarino's Models for Team leadership

Hill's Model for Team leadership is built on the foundation of problem and solution. The leader observes the process until action is necessary, takes leadership action, and later evaluates the events to see if the change was effective. Gonzalo Vilarino, former Argentina's football blind team, provides a perfect example for me. Vilarino moved from coaching a team of normal people into coaching a team of blind men. He entered into his new job without skills but had to learn from the experience in working with the team. At the start, he offered instructions thinking that they would follow but on lifting his head, he found the team doing different things-each member in his direction some lying, others squatting and such things. He had to learn from the members and change actions at various points thus transforming the team into a two times world champion. The change majorly occurred in him before he could change the way the team worked. This practical lesson explains the challenges of team leadership at other workplaces. Observing the team and acting where necessary is a better strategy than forcing processes that do not work. 

From Vilarino's case, open-mindedness and incorporating advice from others are crucial strategies of motivating others and myself. If Vilarino had approached the blind team with the same strategies, he would have failed. Since he submitted himself to lessons from the team that he understood them, they too felt appreciated. The attitude is an expression of trust. The blind had experiences of their own just as the followers at a workstation have their challenges. Since they understand their challenges better than the leader, they are at a better position of suggesting solutions that should not be ignored. A combination of the leader's talent and the followers' solutions will generate a direction that will prove successful and satisfying for both. Willingness to learn opens new possibilities and motivates others to engage as opposed to rigid mindedness. 

Reference

Vilarino, G. How Argentina’s blind soccer team became world champions. Retrieved Feb. 2, 2019, from https://www.ted.com/talks/gonzalo_vilarino_how_argentina_s_blind_soccer_team_became_champions#t-843844