Great Captains

Sam Walker has written a heavily researched book called ‘The Captain Class’ which I would strongly recommend.

His research will show that the greatest sports teams of all time had a common factor and that is the presence of a special leader, the team captain. This isn’t necessarily the ultimate chief, but the captain who will take to the field of battle with the troops and in so doing would give them the winning edge.

It is a big subject, but one that I think we may have overlooked a lot recently and I think it is worth revisiting. It may just be me, but I feel the tendency of late has been to think of leaders as a bit more aloof a bit more refined maybe a bit more strategic. Of course we need that and we also need the inspirational captain.

‘The Captain Class’ depicts a certain type of leader who is literally on the front line doing the necessary but dirty jobs that need to be done. Often these captains aren’t polished but they are doers and fixers, leading from the front with their sleeves rolled up.

It reminds me that once upon a time I would only ever recruit people that I thought could be winners and could lead a winning team. My view of business back then was much more adversarial. I wonder whether, although less politically correct, I haven’t moved to a more clinical and less ultimately useful image of a successful business.

The Captain from the world of rugby is Wayne, Buck, Shelford  and if you don’t know he played almost a complete match with his scrotum split and refused to come off. A rare example of grittiness.

So the questions for this week are;

• Do you have anyone on your team that your team members would follow to the ends of the earth?
• Do you look for tough, special, inspiring, leaders?
• Do you cultivate that winning mentality?
• Or are your leaders really pale and insipid?

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