Unfortunately the
Wallabies were beaten last weekend after a great World Cup campaign, where they
were runners up to the reigning champions New Zealand; the Wallabies looked
like a great chance to win as they came back to 21-17… though they could not
finish it.
A great deal of the
Wallabies improvement and performance was credited to Michael Cheika, the coach
for only the last year; players and commentators have been lauding his
contribution and a focus on his people skills to get the most out of the team.
Many ex and current sports stars and coaches have jumped on the corporate
speaking network and helped motivate businesses and their staff. I played many
games of rugby and I have heard the inspiring speeches, emotional statements,
swearing, yelling, bin kicking, cliques and every motivational other tactic. This
high-octane approach can work and does for some, though it can become tired and
monotonous. The real value is the people person coach/motivator; this trust and
empowerment a coach can build with his players as he also provides them structure
and resources to be their best and let them know what he expects. Empowering
the player so he wants to be better and achieve for the coach and for the team!
All team members get swept along by a tide of trust and purpose; the desire to
contribute to the team. It is the development of a multiple mutual
interdependency, between players and the coach. Everyone knows their job and
everyone know each other’s jobs and trusts them to do it! Cheika was not a
disciplinarian, he let the players know their boundaries and treated them like
the grown ups they are, letting them get their jobs done as they saw best
within the framework provided.
If you can get your
employees working mutually interdependently and empowered, they will generally
be more productive! Employees will make more money, the business will make more
money and then you have a good problem; higher profits and more tax!