Click image to watch ↓ continue reading below for more of my thoughts…
Team culture is a ‘blind phrase’.
That is, we use it constantly to describe a phenomenon within a business or organisation, yet it does little to help us ‘see’ what the real drivers and issues are that reside within the group.
From all the reports and interviews, it is now clear that coach, Darren Lehmann has been blindsided by a Warner led, Smith supported and Bancroft coopted plan to ball tamper.
While it is desirable to know most important events that are happening within your business or in this case the Australian cricket team, if someone(s) want to do something that they know will not receive the approval of the boss, or in this case the coach, then they will always find a way – especially if the plan and actions to be taken are against the rules, CHEATING.
Sanctions have now been handed down.
Lehmann has publicly expressed his heartfelt sentiments to the public and the players involved.
And now there is a quick regroup to face South Africa in the 4th & final Test of the series.
Irrespective of the result, Australia will surprise everyone by the way they play – the next chapter begins!
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Click image to watch, continue reading below for more of my thoughts…
Steve Smith’s admission to cheating the Rules of Cricket to gain competitive advantage have sent shockwaves around the world. The position of Australian cricket captain and the Australian cricket team itself are held in such high esteem by this country due to the way they play the game, aggressively but fairly has been shattered by this decision. In effect Smith and his ‘leadership team’ have broken the trust that the Australian public from Prime Minister down, have entrusted with them to protect the integrity of cricket as well as Australian values and principles on the sporting field.
Today, via James Sutherland CEO Cricket Australia’s media conference, we will get a clearer understanding of what actually transpired within the dressing room leading to the cheating incident. The media conference will see the beginning of the actions Cricket Australia propose to take to rectify this situation and regain the trust of the public, sponsors, broadcasters for looming media rights deals, and importantly the loyal participants and followers of cricket.
One of the areas which will come under much scrutiny will be team culture and the high performance system which surrounds the team. How could a decision like this happen if the high performance culture was strong, resilient, highly principled, ethical and valued winning but not at any cost.
There are so many take-aways for any business or organisation from this episode. It is an explicit case study of leadership and a leader who, in one decision, can betray the trust of everything that he believes in, and others believe of him.
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Steve Smith and his ‘leadership team’ decision to violate the rules of the game is the final product of a team culture that need a significant reboot.
While the coach and captain are instrumental in creating the culture that they believe is best for the team, there are many other parts which contribute, interact with and constantly change the culture.
The players are critical to maintaining and building the resilience of the culture.
The systems that support the team such as High performance, selection, contracting all play their role.
The CEO, other Cricket Australia senior managers and the CA Board all will impact the team culture at certain times.
And of course there are the external factors such as the ICC, the Laws of the game, the Spirit of the game, sponsors, media, and the public, all impacting a team culture.
With the event occurring through this tour in South Africa, it has become clear that a significant reboot of team culture is necessary.
It will be interesting to hear the words of James Sutherland today which should point to this future change and direction.
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