SSM - Blog # 5 - Mariela Pena takes the lead for Volleyball VIctoria

There are a number of qualities that it takes to comprise a good leader, especially in the fast moving world that we live in. Mariela Pena has been working as General Manager at Volleyball Victoria (VV) for 8 months, whilst also maintaining her position at Football Federation Australia as match commissioner. She has worked in sport for over 15 years as a player and coach but now her focus is in administration. She leads her team as she is responsible for multiple tasks; however her primary focus is on the formulation of the new strategic plan. Mariela’s day to day business includes the management of her staff, fostering new and old relationships within the VV community and liaises with the local and national volleyball associations. Through her position she is required to be a leader to those around her, and due to her knowledge, consideration and motivation within her sport she is able to do this well.  

‘Leadership is widely regarded as one of the key factors for organizational success’ (Yuki 2010; Kovjanic et al, 2012). Mariela is still warming to her position at VV. However, through an interview conducted by Robbie Coyle, she has portrayed many leadership qualities. In reviewing Mariela’s qualities, I would suggest that she is a transformational leader. A transformational leader ‘not only aligns and elevates the needs and values of followers, but also provides intellectual stimulation and increased follower confidence’ (Hoye et al. 2012). In stating the importance that she places on focusing on the needs of stakeholders, and how valuable their opinion is shows her selflessness in her approach to being a manager. Mariela stated that employees should ‘live and breathe’ the new strategic plan.  This shows her viewers that she is ‘(generating) awareness of the mission or vision of the team and the organisation, and then (encouraging) colleagues and followers towards outcomes that benefit the team rather than merely serving the individual interest’ (Hoye et al. 2012). Mariela had many qualities that were noted in her interview with Robbie Coyle, that are compared to that of a respectable leader.

To be a transformational leader, Bass and Avolio (1994) named four categories that were to be satisfied:

1.      Idealized influence;

2.      Inspirational motivation;

3.      Intellectual Stimulation

4.      Individualized Consideration

Mariela satisfies this criterion in being a leader. Idealized influence according to bass and Avolio (1994) is behaving in ways that result in being admired, respected and trusted which is seen when Mariela made note of her healthy relationship with the board and stakeholders(Pena 2013) . Mariela ‘(works) in ways that motivate and inspire those around her’ (Bass and Avolio 1994) when she is committed to producing the best quality strategic plan (Pena 2013) and continues to carry out her daily tasks. In utilising the knowledge she has gained from experience in the field and her ability to discuss a variety of options about the VV strategy with the board, she is showing her intellectual stimulation (Bass and Avolio 1994).  Mariela’s ability to oversee her team whilst creating the new strategic plan shows that she has individual consideration.  As noted earlier, her good relationship with the VV board, employees and stakeholders her attention to looking after the individuals other than just her own interest.

Every sporting organisation needs a quality leader that is going to admire and motivate those around them. Mariela’s work with Volleyball Victoria sees the staff she manages complete daily tasks, and also the completion of the new VV strategic plan. Mariela is a transformational leader in seeing her idealised influence; inspirational motivation; intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration (Bass and Avolio 1994). Mariela’s transformational leadership style will only see good things happening at VV in the years to come.

References

Bass BM & Avolio BJ 1994, Improving organizational effectiveness through transformational leadership, Sage Publications, London, UK.

Hoye, R, Smith, A, Nicholson, M, Stewart, B & Westerbeek, H 2012, Sport Management principles and applications, 3rd edn, Routledge, New York, NY.

Kovjanic, S, Schuh, S, Jonas, K, Quaquebeke, N, & Dick, R 2012, 'How do transformational leaders foster positive employee outcomes? A self-determination-based analysis of employees' needs as mediating links, Journal Of Organizational Behavior, 33, 8, pp. 1031-1052, viewed 8 November 2013, EBSCO database.

Pena, M. 2013, Blog 3 Mariela Pena General Manager Volleyball Victoria Interview. Interviewed by Robbie Coyle [viewed on echo] University of Canberra, 10 September 2013.

Yukl, G. 2010, Leadership in organizations, 7th edn, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.