Personio’s Post

The few lines below are inspired by a great book, on our legacy and how we could improve not only our workplace but in reality our fast passage on this blue planet. The Legacy of Rugby: Leaving the Jersey in a Better Place As an old rugby player, I feel that the spirit of rugby extends far beyond the field. One essence of the game lies in the legacy we leave behind, honoring the great souls who wore the jersey before us. This principle is beautifully encapsulated in the book “Legacy” by James Kerr, which draws lessons from the New Zealand All Blacks, the world’s most successful rugby team. Kerr reveals 15 powerful principles that the All Blacks use to create a culture of excellence, resilience, and teamwork. These principles are not just about winning games but about building character and leaving a lasting impact. As rugby players, we never truly leave the field; our actions and values continue to influence future generations. One of the core messages of “Legacy” is to always leave the jersey in a better place. This means striving to improve not just our own performance but also the environment and culture of our team. It’s about being good ancestors, ensuring that the jersey we pass on is enriched by our dedication and hard work. The All Blacks’ success is rooted in their ability to align personal meaning with a higher purpose. They draw on Māori traditions and culture, emphasizing the importance of family (whanau) and collective effort. This approach fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility, where every player is accountable to the team and its legacy. For us, as rugby players who never truly leave the field, this philosophy resonates deeply. We honor those who came before us by embodying the values of humility, adaptability, and continuous learning. We aim high, dream big, and prepare meticulously, knowing that our efforts contribute to a greater legacy. In essence, “Legacy” is a handbook for anyone who wants to lead, create a sustainable culture, or elevate their performance. It reminds us that the true measure of success is not just in the victories we achieve but in the positive impact we leave behind. As we wear the jersey, we carry forward the spirit of those who wore it before us, striving to leave it in a better place for those who will wear it after us. And now a question to you reader, where are you going to leave your jersey?

When I was in high school, the U.S. Olympic ice hockey team beat the Russian team. This unforeseen victory is referred to as “the miracle on ice.” It truly was remarkable. A bunch of young, amateur hockey players beat an experienced team of professionals on the biggest stage in the world. For a brief moment, the world stopped, and everyone took notice of the magnitude of something so unbelievable that it could only be described as a miracle. But I think we can all agree that winning a hockey game does not equate to a true miracle... - Want to read the whole blog? Check it out by clicking the link in our bio!! - #growthebench #snowfighters #onlineeducation #learning #planning #snowindustry #landscapingindustry #businesstips #landscapemaintenance #landscapearchitecture #construction #hardscaping #tradeshow #landscapeprofessionals #landscapecommunity #greenindustry #landscapeindustry #landscapers #paving #businessowners #Snowclients #Snowcontracts #Contracts #Propertymanagers

Rolling Maul Many of us feel strongly about the future of rugby. We find it distressing when what many players call “the fish heads” struggle to provide leadership for the sport. This “governance” process is not only dragging on it is poorly based. The model which was recommended and which in amended form is being promoted is not sound. There is something of an obsession in governance circles with “independence”. After decades of experience with such matters and not a little research over the same period I can find no convincing or universal evidence for the concept, let alone its application to leadership of a sports code, let alone such a sweeping application of the idea. Typically the most effective leadership and guidance will come from a good mix of involvement not lack of involvement. This may be seen as “professionalising” governance but that is (a) a misnomer as it is simply a distancing and (b) it is not at all clear that lack of “professionalism” that is holding the game back, it might well be the inverse. It is not all that hard to develop leadership and governance that is based on involvement, diversity and expertise but this rolling maul of professional independence is not it.

It’s not how you start, but how you finish ✅ Focus on the end game - I’m back with another Rugby themed post, so you guessed it! It must be Friday 😀 In 1905 a match between England and other nationalities was played at Bradford. England won 26–11 even though they were losing at half-time. Wigan's Jim Leytham scored a record four tries in succession. Whether a team game or business, things aren’t always plain sailing. It can be hard work trying to achieve our goals. So, knowing what to say to your team, even when they have their heads down, can make all the difference. What do you think the England manager told the England Team at half time that made them come out fighting to win their game? Come on share your winning lines in the comments below ⬇️ #managementdevelopment #managementskills #managementtips

Hockey Challenge Test 1 The Hockey Challenge (6 Tests) is not complex, it requires balls, cones, some rope and a couple of weights. It is simple, so its easy to run. What do you think the average is for your team on this test (out of possible 18pts :3pts x 6 repetitions)? Too easy for your team? absolutely not the case, it's about consistency that stems from a sound technique. Whist the best score for the test (out of 108) is in the 80's (German 14 year old girl), most players are in the late 40's or early 50's: even those selected for international junior competition in the UK are in the mid/low 60's. If your players can get in the 80's perhaps they are the real deal? Would this test motivate them to practise? 10 point improvements over a season suggest this Hockey Challenge could help. Check it out https://lnkd.in/eBfTuK8t

Values, rules or politics? What happens in your team when people misbehave? 😬 In his excellent book, "Belonging", Owen Eastwood shares an example of "different models for influencing behaviour" from the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks and England both had players misbehave during the tournament, and they took different approaches to deal with the situations. VALUES 🖤 The approach the All Blacks took was for the players concerned to meet with senior players and explain their behaviour. The team themselves then decided what should happen and what the repercussions were. The matter was dealt with and resolved swiftly. RULES 📏 The England players concerned were charged and were required to attend a formal disciplinary hearing in London weeks after the event. The players were judged to be "guilty" and were punished. As Eastwood says "We do not want rules. We want values to aspire to that define what it means to be part of our tribe." In the late 1990s I personally experienced another approach... POLITICS 🙊 Our Auckland men's hockey team had won back-to-back national championships and were travelling to Wellington for the final to try and make it a three-peat. We lost*. Badly. As it transpires a couple of players had misbehaved the night before the final. One of the team management caught wind of it before the game, but didn't inform the coach. There was no team discussion about the behaviour, there was no formal process. Apart from the hurt of the loss, there were no repercussions for the players. After losing just one game in three years in charge, the coach** was dumped and replaced. So, to add to Eastwood's point "We do not want rules" or politics. "We want values to aspire to that define what it means to be part of our tribe." *Full credit to the brilliant Wellington team, who played incredibly well in the final, totally outclassed us, and were completely deserving of the title of champions. 🙌🏾 🏆 **Disclosure: the coach was my Dad, so I definitely have an allegiance and unique perspective on this situation. Photo: The Challenge Shield (NZ national men's championship trophy) #values #culture #belonging

How can negotiators learn from successful rugby players? --- I used to play rugby... a LOT! ... Traveling across the country to play tough games. ... The routine remained the same however. ... My team mates and I would go through drills before every match. ► Passing the ball in grids ► Using tackle bags for tackling ► Practicing some special moves ❝But we already knew how to play rugby, so why do these drills right before the game?❞ THE SECRET TO SUCCESS.... The secret of being a great rugby player is that practice drills prepare you for the real thing, just as they do for any successful sportsperson. Even actors and singers will warm up before their performances. HOW ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS.... What can we do to 'warm up'? It turns out that there is now a solution... use Negotiation Cards to practice your negotiations! ►EXERCISE 1: ACTIVE LISTENING - NEGOTIATION WARM UP 1️⃣ - In a pair, deal out the Negotiation Card (Buyer/Seller). 2️⃣ - Negotiate for 4 minutes. 3️⃣ - Take the time to practice asking questions 4️⃣ - Listen to the answers. 5️⃣ - Then creating new questions based on the answers! 6️⃣ - Discuss after 4 minutes. 7️⃣ - Repeat the process! You might think this is pointless... try telling that to championship rugby players! ---- There are many many more ❝Negotiation Drills❞ you can use before a #negotiation that will help you feel more confident and perform better! #success #procurement #employability #learninganddevelopment

Some of you may be wondering how the Ice Hockey in Spain went over the Christmas break? The Australian Women's U18 Team played in Division 1B, this division consists of teams placed 15-20th in the World (Top Division is 1-8, Division 1A is 9-14). It was a tough start to the tournament facing Norway (who was relegated from Division 1A in 2023), and their 15-0 win over our girls showed the level of play that comes with this division - their passing, positioning and team depth were simply of a higher quality than we have in Australia so our girls had to adjust rapidly. Spain was next and their 9-0 win over the Aussies did not reflect how much our girls had improved (Spain pushed Norway hard when they played each other). We then took on Korea and achieved what I believe is a first Australian win in Division 1 Ice Hockey, with a solid 3-0 result. We then lost to a very solid Polish team, and just missed out beating a very disciplined Chinese Taipei. This left Norway in first clear of Spain then Poland in third, and a 3 way tie for fourth. Our girls fantastic result against Korea meant we won the tie break and finished fourth, with Korea fifth and Chinese Taipei 6th (and hence relegated). https://lnkd.in/gsbcc6C8 Our girls showed they belong in Division 1 (so many teams yo-yo up and down when they are promoted), and so it is up to our national and state bodies to drive improvement in our trainings and games to lift the quality and competitiveness of play domestically (as well as attract and retain players). At the same time, we need to attract and retain Sponsors and Partners, so that we can better fund and support our programs. Australian Women's Hockey is a fantastic brand (check out the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League on https://lnkd.in/gCwUVpfC, or the Youth Olympics currently on 9Go and Stan), that would align with many businesses goals. With the right support who knows how far Aussie girls can go.... perhaps playing in the Professional Women's Hockey League (https://lnkd.in/gGN7FQnN), or competing in the top IIHF division or even the Olympics.

Have you read the recent NZ Herald article on the boardroom battle within New Zealand Rugby? 📰🏉 It's not every day that we get a glimpse into the inner workings of such a dynamic and beloved sport, and this article certainly sheds light on the complexities involved in governance decisions. Even the most passionate rugby fan might find the intricacies of boardroom negotiations daunting. Yet, precisely these behind-the-scenes discussions shape the future of the game we all love! Reading about the struggles to find common ground on governance changes, the financial challenges NZR faces, and the underlying culture of distrust, it's clear that the stakes are high. As NZR navigates through the twists and turns of this boardroom saga, it's a reminder of the importance of effective governance in every organisation. Here's to hoping for a resolution that ensures the continued success and sustainability of New Zealand Rugby. 🌟 Thank you for the thought-provoking and insightful article Gregor Paul. #EffectiveGovernance #NZRugby #GovernanceMatters 🏉 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gatrbygX

In the world of hockey, triumph isn't just measured by goals scored or matches won; it's also found in the stories of individuals who defy expectations and overcome challenges with sheer determination and passion for the sport. Today, on International Down Syndrome Day, we celebrate two remarkable individuals whose journeys through Hockey with Intellectual Disabilities, also known as Hockey ID, exemplify the power of inclusion, resilience, and teamwork. Read the full story below 👇