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From the Rugby Dinner Event we’ve the inside scoop for the Rugby World Cup and 5 strategies from rugby that can help in business success too.
The Rugby Dinner was a huge success, thank you so much to Icon Engage Hospitality that chose to support our cause.
Thank you to all of the businesses that attended to help us raise much-needed funds for our 1st stage build in South Africa. We were so pleased that over 500 business-people attended and enjoyed an amazing night to remember.
Raising funds on the night for our build and thank you to Livin’ Art who supported the event with their amazing Sculptures, some special things came out of this on the night, which we will be able to share in the near future.
5 strategies business leaders can adapt from rugby
1. Decision-making of a good leader
A good business leader could be compared to a good scrum-half (the player who orchestrates the speedy backs and forward pack - whose decisions dominate play tactics). They need to understand the strengths of all the players on the field and unite diverse functions into an organic whole.
Decisions such as - to offload or take the ball into the tackle? To commit to the ruck or make yourself available for the next play? Take a penalty or play on through advantage? Every second requires a choice decision and picking the best outcome from every player (or team member).
By knowing and optimising the talents of individual team players - adaptable, resilient organisations demand the same. The experiences on our projects, provide an invaluable experience in decision-making skills.
2. Shifting strategies
Rugby is not a game of rapid back-and-forth, like some sports, it is where every yard of ground gained towards the try line has to be earned.
If a team is able to quickly assess the changing state of play and move with the agility and speed to take advantage of the break, this can turn a game entirely.
Growing a business can be the same, a lot of effort for seemingly little gain, with pure determination and getting stuck in can you make meaningful progress. Then be ready to move fast when opportunity presents itself. Businesses that can be the first to see a shifting marketplace, or identify a gap and move with speed, are often the ones that succeed.
Such as businesses that can demonstrate their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
CSR demonstrates that you're a business that takes an interest in wider social issues, rather than just those that impact your profit margins.
Which will attract customers with similar values attract and retain employees and be important for any stakeholders, such as investors or media.
3. Team playing, rugby style and community build style
In rugby, everyone needs to be good at everything, to support the team whatever arises, some players are big, some are fast, a back (usually the ones that do the running) should be able to deliver a powerful tackle, and a forward (the power at the front, for pushing through defences) should be able to run and dodge with the ball.
Every team, and every organisation, needs its specialists, its talents. Ultimately. The very best team players, whether on the pitch, in the office, or onsite, need to be able to understand the entire situation and have the knowledge and skills to step in where needed.
The same is applied in building the communities, it is all about teamwork.
Be it - pre - during and -post the build, with key operational skills and planning, then coordination between the UK volunteers and the local community volunteers. Everyone is an important part of the whole.
4. The importance of diversity
A good leader knows how important diversity is in building a dynamic team. The British & Irish Lions, bring together the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Players from diverse teams, only weeks before, were competing against each other for their respective nations. Business leaders, can build successful teams, by combining the strengths of these diverse skills of the team.
Like our projects, diversity is key and bringing different people and their skills together to unite and create something even greater than they can alone.
5. Crisis management
If a business hits a crisis, there’s no time for play to stop, medics to rush on and bottles of water to be dispensed to exhausted executives. Leadership means responding to crises, when they happen.
The best rugby players aren’t usually the fastest, strongest or the most agile players, but often the ones who can understand the layout of the field, coordinate efforts across the team and make tough decisions under pressure.
These skills don’t generally develop when people operate within one role, so expanding their skills with projects like ours, is a great way to build these skills.
Find out how to add more skills @ http://bit.ly/BigClub