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Professional Philosophy

Christopher Wright

One of the toughest questions that I have ever answered in my life was the

question, Who are you? My initial response was, I am Christopher Wright. No

one had ever asked me that question in an interview so it took me by surprise. The
following question was, And who is Christopher Wright? I began to tell the
interviewer what I thought he was asking for, where I was born, my age, hobbies
and other basic information about myself. While all the information that I provided
was accurate, it did not truly give the interviewer a sense of what type of person I
was. It was not until later in life that I learned what the interviewer was attempting
to get out me. He wanted to know what type of person he was potentially hiring,
what were my core beliefs and values in life. In this professional philosophy paper I
will discuss my cores values and beliefs as well as other topics that will provide a
clear depiction of who I am.

Considering my goal is to work in sports administration I must consider the

value of sports administration. I believe that the role of sports administrators is

important. If we use an athletic director as an example, most schools have multiple
sports for both male and female. Without an athletic director in place to set rules,
guidelines, requirements and even consequences there would be no organization in
that particular sports program. Sports administrators in my opinion are the brains
of athletic departments. The players are the muscle because they are the individuals
that put more of the physical effort to make up the athletic department. Both have
to work together in order to achieve the best possible program.

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My style of leadership is more of the democratic style of leadership. I value

the input of others because I would want others to value any input that I have. If I
am placed in charge of a group or organization I prefer there to be a sense of
positive professional morale within the organization. With the democratic style of
leadership all voices are heard and even though the leader makes the final decision
the decision is based on the valued input of the entire group. I recognize keeping
everyone satisfied all of the time is a daunting and nearly impossible task but the
democratic style seems to be most successful in attempting to do so.

Since being placed in positions of leadership I recognize certain practices

that other leaders use that I find valuable. One simple yet powerful example of a
professional practice I learned and now use is, recognizing your position when
holding a conversation with someone in a profession setting. Even though you may
be in charge, when having conversation with an employee, co-worker or anyone in a
professional setting, make an earnest effort to match the level they are on. If you are
engaging in conversation make sure both parties are standing or sitting. This is
important because it abolishes the assumption of a dominant party and creates a
respectable setting for conversation to take place. I try to keep this practice in mind
whenever I am about to engage in conversation in a professional setting. Being
approachable is important and no one wants to feel that they are being dominated
or overpowered when engaging in conversation with another person,

Ethical behavior is important in any profession. Ethical behavior is one of the

main factors that can keep you employed. My career goal is to become an Athletic
Director at a Division I university and I realize that following the code of ethics in

any position leading up to my career goal and beyond is important. Having an

ethical blemish on your record can affect your potential to be hired. In college
athletics, athletic directors, coaches and other faculty must follow recruiting
guidelines. Any breech of trust or signs of dishonesty may not only jeopardize your
career but also the athletic program you represent. So I find it important and
valuable for my advancement in the sports industry to be honest and morally sound.

Now more than ever diversity plays an important role in many different

professions. In the world of sports more specifically in sports administration it is a

requirement to respect all ethnicities and cultures. Being a minority myself, I have
learned to appreciate different cultures and ethnicities. I have discovered you can
learn from and network with a variety of people. As a future athletic director it is
important that I build and maintain relationships with all races, socio-economic
backgrounds as well as those in the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender)
community. Building lasting relationships are important because it helps in
recruiting, job security and other opportunities as a result of relationship building
and networking.

Leading by example and being a positive force in the community is my

definition of a role model. Many people in the sports world do not sign up to be role
models, but their status amongst kids and adults alike places them in that role
automatically. As it relates to sports administration the players may see their coach
or athletic director as a role model, father figure or mother figure. It is my belief
that you must place value on how you carry yourself privately and publicly not only
because it is the correct thing to do but also you never know who is watching. Being

a positive force in the community is also a part of being a role model.

Administrative figureheads in college sports build relationships with the community
on and off campus. They build those relationships amongst the community to gain
their trust and to keep loyalty in the program. So it is important to continue to be a
role model to younger kids looking to become involved sports and also adults who
may view a coach or administrator as role model.

For minority students in sports, especially African American student athlete

attending a predominantly white institution, the transition can be difficult and

overwhelming. By having role models or mentors available will help the transition
process. The Journal of Sports Management states, In particular, the first 2 years of
college represent a difficult period during which this group would benefit from new
ideas to support their multiple transitions. Mentoring, and more specifically
constellation mentoring, provides great promise for aiding in the transition and
success of this group. Kelly, D. (2014) Successfully Navigating Life Transitions
Among African American Male Student Athletes. JSM Volume 28, Issue 5, September.

Knowing your identity and being able to clearly articulate your values and

beliefs are essential when it comes to any profession. Your identity is who you are
and your beliefs and values help make up that person. The way you carry yourself
publicly and privately is important because your reputation is on the line whether
you are at the entry level stages of a profession such as sports administration or in
the front office of a major professional sports team.