The leader in everyone

coach’s business : john buchanan
The leader in everyone
A team must seek to make all its players capable of taking highquality decisions in varied situations

john buchanan

The author is coach of the Australian cricket team which won World Cup 2003 and continues to be a competitive international team.

In my previous column, we had touched upon the concept of leadership. We discussed the role of a leader, styles of leadership, and the unique approaches of the former captain of the Australian cricket team, Steve Waugh, and his successor Ricky Ponting.In a recent article in The Observer, former England rugby union coach Sir Clive Woodward attributed effective leadership to "picking the right people". He says: "If you have the right people in your team, you don't need to worry about motivation. But one wrong person can cut the legs off everyone. If you make a bad decision, you have to change it, however hard it is."At a different level, effective leadership calls for a set of qualities during turbulent economic, political, social and environmental times. As Mark McNeilly puts it in Sun Tzu And The Art of Business: "Leadership is a matter of intelligence, trustworthiness, humaneness, courage and sternness - a general should have these five virtues... Reliance on intelligence alone results in rebelliousness. Exercise of humaneness alone results in weakness. Fixation on trust results in folly. Dependence on the strength of courage results in violence. Excessive sternness in command results in cruelty. When one has all five virtues together, each appropriate to its function, one can be a military leader."From the words of Sir Clive Woodward and McNeilly, and my experience with leaders, I firmly believe that leadership is in everyone. However, not everyone is seen as a leader as we tend to associate the word only with a designated position - in business, politics, religion, community, sports, and so on.We tend to be satisfied with such an arrangement because it means we do not have to make decisions for, or on behalf of others. We do not have to take on additional responsibilities than those with which we are comfortable. We are not forced to make decisions which will make us unpopular with some sections of our community. And we can happily find a target to blame when decisions do not suit us.How often do we sit back and wait, or let someone else make a decision for us: the 'sheep mentality'! It is the safe option, but a decision from which we learn little - particularly about the self. If I allowed our cricket team to operate in such a manner, I believe our results would be nowhere near as successful as they are.Leadership, as I stated earlier, is in everyone! It is an important principle in my philosophy. Otherwise, there will be players and people within the team who will rely on the decisions of others. A team comprising such individuals will play conservatively, and will make decisions that reduce risk. Such a team will attempt not to lose first, and then re-assess the situation after this outcome is secured.Cricket is a 'one-ball' game. Each player, be he a batsman, a bowler, or a fielder, is required to respond to the circumstances of each ball. The team requires the player to make a decision of the highest quality - then, repeat this outcome ball after ball.In every one of these moments, the individual is the team 'leader'. The Australian cricket team has performed well consistently because the captain and the team place confidence and belief in each individual. Equally, each individual seeks this position of 'leadership'. As a consequence, the majority of challenges that the team faces are ones which we have not only faced, but have also conquered through the decision-making (leadership capacity) quality of all the members in and around the team.Leadership within the team environment can be actively encouraged by providing all individuals with opportunities to demonstrate such skills. This process would include asking a player to lead group discussions either on game tactics or a current team issue, presentations - both formal and informal - to the media, and association with Cricket Australia sponsors.Leadership styles vary with the situation. However, style is generally determined by the personality of the leader. Steve Waugh liked to lead by example, especially when the situation was more difficult than the norm. He 'steeled' himself for battle - daring, taunting and defying the opposition. He jousted with their technical and mental skills. He implored his troops to play aggressively. In his book, there was only winning or losing; drawing was never part of the plan.Such an approach is possible with very skilled players available to execute the attack. The evidence is the Australian team's record sequence of Test wins between 1999 and 2001 - 16 straight victories!Ricky Ponting, the present captain of the team, has a similar leadership approach - of leading from the front. However, while he captures the Waugh-like aggression, he tempers this approach with the knowledge that one's strength is also one's weakness. Hence, Ricky's leadership is more inclusive, at least when it concerns his senior players. He has concern for his team players having the necessary inputs, being well aware of his decisions, and knowing his expectations when it comes to results.


The Australian team, captained by Ricky Ponting (centre), is strengthened by a varied set of leadership styles within — be it Shane Warne’s (L) outspoken approach or Adam Gilchrist’s (R) ‘nice guy’ leadership

Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has also had the chance to lead Australia in six Test matches, and is no less determined than the other two. He has the 'nice guy' leadership style, not wanting to create conflict with any member, and creating an atmosphere where that is reciprocated.Other senior members of the team vary in the way they conduct themselves as leaders. Shane Warne wears his heart on his sleeve. He is very passionate about what he believes and is, therefore, quite outspoken in his style. While his approach occasionally brings him into conflict with the thoughts and opinions of others, the team benefits from his difference.Fast bowler Glenn McGrath leads simply by doing. It is a simple 'formula' for performing. And provided he does not complicate such an approach with mischief on the field or being 'caught up' in the emotions of an event, he is our Mr Reliable.Again, the important ingredient to structure a team that champions leadership as a valuable quality is the environment created by the formal leadership team - the captain and coach.I will end this column with the words of Steve Waugh: "Smart leaders show faith in the people they have surrounded themselves with, and rely on them to help the leader out."