Question 1.
Herb Brooks’ utilized autocratic management style shown best in his choice of players selected after only a single day of tryouts. He made his players skate herbies for hours as he witnessed his players were distracted by girls in the crowd during their match against Norway. Brooks displayed task-oriented leadership as he managed to combine European and Canadian style for achieving his goal of Olympic gold. He pushed his players beyond their limits.
Question 2.
Herb Brooks was task oriented as wanted to ensure that no stone was left unturned to train his team and ensure their fitness levels was as good as the Soviets. His autocratic style was a means to achieving the gold at Lake Placid. Brooks was aware that his team was not on the level of Soviets and utilizing the autocratic style helped him to train his players rigorously.
Question 3.
Herb Brooks maintained his autocratic leadership style throughout the movie. He even accuses an injured player of quitting to ensure the team is motivated. His goal oriented perspective became a driving factor in the USA winning the gold.
Question 4.
Herb Brooks maintained his autocratic style even when he pressurized by people around him to change. After the draw with Norway, even when players get too tired and the ice rink is closed, he still demands his players to skate herbies. Also, when the assistant coach asks Brooks to show some leniency he still demands his players to keep skating as a punishment.
Question 5.
Herb Brooks chose Mike Eruzione as the captain as he showed leadership skills and the ability to unite the team. Mike Eruzione and some of the players get angry when a new player (Tim) is brought into the group, Mike and few others confront Herb Brooks and tell him that Tim is not part of the family and it is unfair that he is brought in so late. Mike Eruzione is the player that shouts out that he plays for the USA, which makes Herb Brooks stop their punishment after the Norway game.
Question 6.
All players know each other already from college hockey and they have animosity between each other due to past scuffles. Also, the team is divided into individuals as they all were fighting to get selected in the final 20 and saw everyone else as competition.
Question 7.
They become one unit after the game against Norway when Mike Eruzione shouts out that he plays for USA. This is an answer to the earlier question posed by Herb Brooks to the players in training. Also, when Tim is brought into the team, the players unite and ask Herb Brooks to send him home as he is not part of their family.
Question 8.
The mission of the team is to win the Olympic Gold fir the USA. Their vision is to become the Olympic champions in their back yard at Lake Placid and ensure they beat Soviets who are their arch enemies.
Question 9.
Mike Eruzione utilized transformational and Laissez-faire leadership at times. When he shouted out his name and the team he plays for his was transformational leader, as it managed to unite the team. On the pitch, Mike showed laissez-faire leadership as he allowed the coach and players to perform their task and completed what was assigned to him.
Question 10.
The coach kept Jack O'Callahan as he knew that cutting him from the team would be unfair to him and his teammates who became a tight unit. As a coach, I would have made the same decision as it was the ethical and logical decision to keep the team united.
Works Cited
Miracle. Dir. Gavin O'Connor. Perf. Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson and Noah Emmerich. 2004. Buena Vista Pictures, 2004. Film.
