Leadership principles from the All Blacks

Legacy: 15 leadership and culture principles from the world’s most successful sports team; New Zealand men’s national rugby union team, the All Blacks.

A number of years ago I was recommended Legacy by a friend and mentor, Col Burk. The book details the extraordinary high-performance culture of the New Zealand men’s national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks. I read it once more this last week, and I recommend it wholeheartedly as we face a world full of leadership challenges in 2021.

The All Blacks suffered a devastating quarter-final loss in the quarter-final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. France stole a 20–18 win, thanks to a late try from Yannick Jauzion. It was the first time New Zealand had failed to make the semi-finals. Their worst World Cup result. Many factors contributed to the loss, but one reason rose to the top: there was a desperate need for great leadership.

Author, James Kerr, defines 15 key principles from the world’s most successful sports team, and on how self-reflection and great leadership turned the All Blacks around. It’s an incredible read, and provides an inspiring and effective model for leadership in other fields.

1. Character

Never be too big to do the small things that need to be done. Character triumphs over talent. Collective character, is vital to success. Focus on getting the culture right, and the results will follow.

2. Adapt

When you’re on top of your game, change your game. A winning organisation is an environment of personal and professional development, in which each individual takes responsibility and shares ownership. You either adapt, or you lose; and sustainable competitive advantage is achieved by the development of a continuously self-adjusting culture.

3. Purpose

Ask ‘why?’. Our fundamental human drive comes from within — from intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivations. Inspired leaders and organisations attract followers through shared values, vision and beliefs. They connect personal meaning to a higher purpose to create belief, and a sense of direction.

4. Responsibility

Leaders create leaders. Leaders empower individuals by passing on responsibility, creating ownership, accountability, and trust. Individuals are more willing to give themselves to a common cause with this sense of inclusion and empowerment. Shared responsibility means shared ownership.

5. Learn

Create a learning environment. Leaders are teachers. Excellence is a process of cumulative learning, and incremental improvement. Then they pass on what they have learned. Enlightened leadership promotes a structured system for the development of the team, combined with a tailored map for the development of the individual.

6. Whānau

No dickheads. Whānau is a Māori-language word for extended family. Whānau is your family, your mates, your team, your organisation. Everyone works together towards the same goal. No one is bigger than the team. The strength of the wolf is the pack. No one is left behind.

7. Expectations

Aim for the highest cloud. Successful leaders have high internal benchmarks. They set their expectations high, and try to exceed them. If you can conceive, and believe, you can achieve.

8. Preparation

Train to win. Practice under pressure. Intensity of preparation conditions the brain to perform under pressure. It lets peak performance become automatic.

9. Pressure

Control your attention. Bad decisions are not made through a lack of skill or innate judgement. They are made because of an inability to handle pressure at the pivotal moment.

10. Authenticity

Keep it real. Know thyself. The best leaders remain true to their deepest values. High-performing teams promote a culture of honesty, authenticity, and safe conflict.

11. Sacrifice

Find something you would die for, and give your life to it. Champions do extra. “There are no crowds lining the extra mile.” It’s the work we do behind closed doors that makes the difference.

12. Language

Invent your own language. Leaders are storytellers. All great organisations are born from a compelling story. Companies that maintain their core values are those that stand alone, stand apart, and stand for something.

13. Ritual

Create a culture. Inspiring leaders establish rituals to connect their team to its core narrative. Rituals tell your story, involve your people, and make the intangible real.

14. Whakapapa

Plant trees you’ll never see. Connect the past, present, and future. True leaders are stewards, and take the responsibility for adding to the legacy. Our time is limited. Understanding the fragility of life is the first step in understanding our role and responsibility as a leader.

15. Legacy

Write your legacy. This is your time. It’s time to make your mark. Your contribution. Your legacy.

I’m captivated by the All Blacks’ story. They have fifteen players who work together towards a common purpose: to win. These 15 principles work in the same way. The booked is filled with useful information, tips, methodologies and strategies that can be transferred to both business, and personal lives.