Left: Team New Zealand at the top of their game in Valencia in 2007. There is a very good argument that TNZ followed by Alinghi have been the strongest recent AC ‘teams’, two squads putting communal ambition ahead of individual egos. The commonality is of course TNZ, from which the core of Alinghi was recruited back in 2000. TNZ also remains the best AC team for delivering performance for the buck, but from 2003 to 2013 and in the face of a great many more bucks that has not proved quite enough
place, just as the person before has, as will the person after. You can sense it, you feel it in the karma – it’s not about you, it’s about the team. That applies to every man, woman and child and is represented by the spearhead.
In this modern me, me, me world of self-promotion, counting the number of Facebook ‘friends’, Twitter followers, selfies and personal website hits, you can understand how it might take some real effort to get, and keep, true team values and culture on track. It’s bloody hard work and there are lots of people who would like you to believe they can just wave their wand and make it happen over a week or two. Most of them are advertising themselves on Facebook, Twitter and flashy web pages, with a selfie or two. How many times have we witnessed a team, be it in sport or business, go off to a bonding weekend. When I hear that I just shake my head and laugh. Truth is I sarcastically refer to them as ‘bondage weekends’. Lots of window dressing, silly games and rah-rah speeches. It’s like slapping a coat of paint over the top of everything, only to see it dry out and peel off in a few months’ time. When done properly, a team’s (and individual’s, for that matter) values, culture and exceptions are woven into the fabric of the soul of the team. They can’t ever peel or flake off. That weaving requires time and real commitment by everyone, but starts at the top… not with rah-rah speeches or bondage weekends. It’s woven into the team’s fabric through leading by example. It’s less about what you say, more about what you do, every day, on and off the field. Here are three basic rules, so basic they should never be violated, but often are, rules that must be rigorously followed to weave the culture of success: 1) same rules for everyone 2) leaders (and coaches) work longer and harder than anyone, with more enthusiasm and commitment 3) everyone is valued and everyone has a voice It’s a constant reinforcement of the team values, even after they are imbedded into the fabric of the team. They need to be injected, not with words or rah-rah speeches, but by example. It’s about the hardest and most important thing you can do, if you really want to set the standard and become the ‘team’ others try to emulate. Look, there are other values you could instil or lead the team toward – politicians tend to like the ‘blame culture’… one of spinning situations for personal advantage, shifting blame, taking all the credit and moving up the ladder at others’ expense. Or the ‘country club’ culture – one of entitlement, appearances and leisure, with little accountability. Where people can happily coast along without ever being called to task.
So you are asking what makes Rod an expert on the subject? Well, even if you were, I don’t consider myself an expert yet… got lots of experience in teams and campaigns, both Olympics and America’s Cups, 40 years’ worth, but that does not make an expert. However, it is a passion of mine, how to get and create an environment that gets the best out of both the individuals and the team, but that does not qualify me for a title… Been in the school of hard knocks, and been part of teams that have bought into the team culture and have been successful beyond anyone’s expectations. We have all seen the other side too; team cultures that start with lofty ideas only to descend to blame or country club levels. Sometimes both at once.
One word of caution: team culture and values we have talked about here apply to longer programmes, programmes or businesses that are a great success for years and years. Next time we will talk about how to modify these to suit a much smaller timeframe, like your next sailing season.
In both cases, longterm or just one season, when you get the team running right, and keep it right, you and your team will go on to reach unprecedented levels. It’s magic. And it’s very cool to be a part of.
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