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No Dick Heads - LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE ALL BLACKS

Well it is finally upon us and I cannot wait to watch the World Cup final (from home unfortunately) and to see the All Blacks retain the World Cup, you  know they will!!

Earlier this week we explored how the Aussies went from Wannabes back to the Wallabies in just one season through strong LEADERSHIP. 

Today we are going to explore how Leadership works in the All Blacks. 

First up the All Blacks are the most successful sporting franchise in the history of the world. 

I’m just going by straight stats here.

With a win ratio of 76% over 115 years 

Back in 2004, something was wrong. The 2003 World Cup had gone badly, and by the start of the following year senior All Blacks were threatening to leave. Discipline was lacking with players drunk and disorderly and to make things worse....the All Blacks were losing. 

In response, a new management team under Graham Henry began to rebuild the world's most successful sporting team from the inside out. They wanted a fresh culture that placed emphasis on individual character and personal leadership. 

Their mantra..... ‘BETTER PEOPLE MAKE BETTER ALL BLACKS’ 

The result.... An incredible win-rate of just over 86% and a Rugby World Cup. 

Since Steve Hansen took over as head coach (after being Henry's assistant) after the world cup victory in 2011, he has achieved a remarkable 93% win record!

What has contributed to this is that inside the team they have a Leadership group, a group of players who keep the standards high for the culture of the team and the integrity of the jersey. 

Gone are the days where you would hear of drinking incidents, and loutish behaviour. 

It become a mantra within the coaching group a number of years back that better people make better All Blacks and they began working on the CULTURE within the team ethos that was about becoming a BETTER MAN. 

The values shifted to living BALANCED lives, with focus on FAMILY and COMMUNITY. 

For example the wives and girlfriends are with the team for this world cup, yet there is no media frenzy like what happened with the England football team debacle in Germany. 

They are there to keep the guys entered and balanced. 

Better people make better LEADERS. 

Leadership isn't  just about being the best in your field in terms of KNOWLEDGE and SKILL. 

These attributes are important, yet what really is important is the way you are at HOME, out of the spotlight. Are you balanced with work/ home life (always a juggling act). 

Are you in harmony in your relationship? Are you faithful and loyal with your energy? Are you putting others before yourself? The greatest expression of LOVE is SERVICE. 

Real LEADERS make LEADERS of others…. Not FOLLOWERS….. 

Real leaders are there to SERVE, not to be SERVED and have their followers gratify their ego’s Which is often he case in sport and I am sad to say the health and fitness industry. I mean how often do we see idiotic behaviour, or big ego’s in sports… 

One of the key VALUES of the ALL Blacks culture is HUMILITY. 

For example after every match the biggest names in the team sweep the changing rooms. That’s right the All Blacks clean up their own changing rooms after each and every test. How humble is that. 

In Maori culture WHANAU means extended family, it’s symbol is a spearhead.  Every All Black follows the mantra ‘NO DICK HEADS’ The All Blacks management select on character as well as talent.

So a super promising player would never pull on a jersey if they are consider a dick head, their place in the team would be detrimental to the WHANAU. The team has a mantra ‘CHAMPIONS DO MORE’ This means finding incremental ways to keep improving.

For example this year at fitness testing Richie McCaw at the ripe old age of 35 performed his personal best on the fitness tests! His attitude as captain sets the tone for the rest to follow, he is always looking to improve. 

The team has created an ethos to leave the jersey in a better place.

Meaning that their task is to represent all those that came before them, they are playing not for themselves, yet the truly remarkable club of people who have reached the pinnacle and have represented the jersey before them. 

It’s clear that better people make better ALL BLACKS. And that better people make better LEADERS as well.

So how is your FAMILY LIFE? Is it in harmony do you have enough time with them which is the most valuable resource you have. 

Do you stay HUMBLE even when things are going amazing for you? Do you gather people around you based upon CHARACTER as well as skill? Do you always find ways to keep improving even though you have mastered something?

And most importantly are you trying to LEAVE A LEGACY and if so what does it look like? Food for thought as you step up your PERSONAL LEADERSHIP and INFLUENCE.