‘This is the essence of management – the creation of an environment within which individuals and teams reach for the stars.’
Did you see the emotion of the Argentinians during their national anthem at the opening of the Rugby World Cup? The tears in their eyes, their quivering chins, their passionate singing? French were composed, but was it arrogance, as BBC analyst Matt Dawson suggested, or were they simply overawed by the sheer wonder of the occasion? Well, we soon saw the result of that emotional energy. France were humiliated on their home ground in front of their stunned home crowd with passes misdirected, balls dropped and turnovers conceded as the Pumas hit them with swarming defence and hard, driving tackles.
It’s amazing what gees (spirit) will do, isn’t it? What is it that builds this incredible gees, passion and commitment in a team? What is it that the Puma’s leadership and management did to get this team so switched on? I t reminded me of a similar phenomenon in my schooldays, which today repeats itself around the country. was a boarder at a school with 250 boarders and 750 day scholars. can’t remember the day boys ever winning a single one of the inter-house sporting competitions. We thrashed them at rugby, at swimming, at tennis, at athletics. Only 250 of us against 750, and we always won. It wasn’t technical skills, it wasn’t size, it wasn’t talent – it was gees. magine if you could pin down the key factors that drive teams to perform at exceptional levels, and then apply these to your business.
This is the essence of management – the creation of an environment within which individuals and teams reach for the stars. But it’s no simple task, and this for me has always been the fascination of management. Skilled managers have the almost magic ability to get the best out of their people and their teams. They are able to use just the right mix of leadership, modesty, authority, sensitivity, bravado and the many other traits that make an outstanding manager. Not only this, but they modify this mix of ingredients, and the quantity of each, depending on circumstances and the particular task at hand. By the time you read this column, the World Cup will be approaching the quarter-final stage. We will have seen the 20 teams in action, each operating in an environment created by its own style of management. The game itself, surely the world’s ultimate team sport, offers so many lessons in management. Fifteen team members, each carefully selected for the special talents he brings to the game; each member providing support for the others and able to expertly cover any temporary gaps; leadership on the field, putting strategy into action but with the skill and authority to change it. It’s just like running a business. ’ll be watching and enjoying every game over the next 40 days, but will also be looking behind the games for the management lessons that emerge on and off the field. Will you? You should be. |fw
