Kia ora folks. I live in one of the areas worst-affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and for a couple of weeks we had no power. Anyway this meant in the evenings before it got dark I was able to get a bit of reading in. And I managed to work my way through Steve Hansen: The Legacy written by Gregor Paul. Here's my review ...
I’m not normally one for ‘sports’ books, but I found the read gripping and it gave a great insight into Steve Hansen's career as a coach and the legacy he left behind in the sport. The key themes that he discussed apply equally to business as they did to the All Blacks.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book is how it gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Hansen himself. We get to see how his experiences as a player, former freezing worker, police officer, and professional rugby coach, as well as his personal life, shaped his coaching philosophy and style.
It delves into the cultural impact that Hansen had on the All Blacks and highlights the importance of his leadership and how he instilled a culture of excellence and respect within the team.
Based on Steve Hansen's coaching philosophy and style, here is an outline of the four key points that he emphasized in his leadership.
Hansen believed that creating a strong team culture was essential to success. He focused on building a team culture based on respect, trust, and accountability. He also emphasised the importance of having a clear team identity and values that everyone could buy into.
Hansen understood the importance of empathy in leadership. He emphasised the need for coaches to understand their players as people first and foremost, not just athletes. He believed that coaches should take the time to get to know their players, understand their motivations and concerns, and show empathy and support when needed.
Hansen believed that adaptability was key to success in the rapidly changing world of rugby. He emphasised the importance of being able to adapt to different situations, opponents, and game plans. He also encouraged his players to be adaptable and to have the flexibility to change their approach when needed.
Hansen was a firm believer in the idea of continuous improvement. He encouraged his players to always strive to be better, both on and off the field. He also emphasised the importance of learning from both wins and losses, and using that knowledge to improve in the future.
Overall, Hansen's leadership philosophy emphasised the importance of building a strong team culture, showing empathy towards players, being adaptable to change, and continuously striving for improvement, all great things that we can also apply in business settings.
These four key points helped him to become one of the most (if not the most) successful coaches in rugby history.
If you’re interested in grabbing a copy of this book hit the link below, it's well worth a read.
