The Leadership Coach's Blog
This leadership coach's blog comes as Head Coach Stuart Lancaster, makes an immediate mark on the England rugby squad.
Leadership : Stuart Lancaster - The New Rules!
It's not taken new Head Coach Stuart Lancaster long to put his stamp on the England rugby squad. Out of the squad goes Harlequin's scrum-half Danny Care.
Care's recent drink-driving related incidents, have given the perfect opportunity for Lancaster to let all concerned know what is expected of an England player.
After the liberal approach shown by Martin Johnson, it's right that Lancaster brings some discipline to the squad. And now is the perfect time.
The debacle of New Zealand, has given Lancaster the permission to re-open the conversation on what it means to be an England rugby player. What are the behaviours; attitudes; mind-sets; disciplines.
It's like Dr. Reality has come to town.
Someone who can see it like it is, and tell it like it is. Without fear. Without a desire to be liked. Simply a strong instinct for what is right and wrong.
And how off-field behaviours impact on performance. It's something that Sir Clive Woodward appeared to understand well. The Ten-Minute Rule is the perfect example.
If a meeting was set for ten o'clock, the the players were expected to be in their places ten minutes beforehand. Any one who was late was fined. And more importantly, were told that their behaviour could cost England the World Cup.
The reasoning behind this, was that poor-timekeeping was the cause of lateness. And poor time-keeping, as an attitude had no place in the mindset of World Cup winners. Poor time-keeping on the field would lead to bad decisons and mistakes.
Somewhere down the line the England Management Team lost this clarity of focus. As did the team. Inappropriate off the field behaviours found their way onto the pitch. With results to match.
The dropping of Danny Care may well mark the return of this clarity of thinking. In his short tenure, Stuart Lancaster could start to re-write the wrongs of the last regime.
But his players have to be on board. For ultimately, it's their desire to be the very best at what they do, that makes the ultimate difference.
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