Lessons from the worlds’ best sports team

The New Zealand rugby team "All Blacks" is the most successful team of the last century, with a win rate of almost 90%. James Kerr emphasizes the lessons companies and leaders can learn from the success of this extraordinary team.

As a consultant, James has been active in a wide range of different teams and companies. With this experience in mind, he reflects on the All Blacks’ performance while building bridges between psychology, business, and other sports. According to James, the All Blacks’ high win ratio results from an extraordinarily strong culture, definitely not solely focused on winning the next game. The team often changes perspective to look at ‘the bigger picture,’ in which passing the group’s values and beliefs onto the next generation is important. The lessons learned from the team apply to leadership, decision-making, building a culture of innovation, and personal growth. We have summarized the 15 most important lessons in building a culture of innovation from James Kerr’s book "Legacy":

1. Character – Building a character starts with humility and discipline. The biggest opportunities to learn can be found in your own mistakes.

2. Flexibility – Be prepared to change the way you do things. This also applies when you are on top of the game.

3. Purpose – Always know why you are doing what you are doing.

4. Responsibility – Be an innovator, not a follower. Create a sense of purpose, the success of the individual will empower the team.

5. Learn – Create a learning environment. A team that cannot learn from its mistakes will never grow.

6. Whanau – A team should only consist of team players. The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.

7. Expectations – Aim high; you force yourself to prepare as well as possible in this way.

8. Preparation – Practice to win. If you are not growing, you are not going anywhere.  

9. Pressure – Prepare to win and to work outside of your comfort zone. Bad decisions are often the result of people being unable to handle the pressure

10. Authenticity – Be yourself, and accept others as they are. This will ensure you will genuinely get to know each other.

11. Sacrifice – Go outside of your comfort zone and don’t stop where the others stops. Champions do more.

12. Language – Develop a common language and set of beliefs, which will bind the group together.

13. Ritual – The use of rituals is a great way to maintain the culture within a team. It gives your team the opportunity to reflect on their identity and performance.

14. Whakapapa – Be part of something bigger than yourself. Leave your jersey in a better place.

15. Legacy – This is your time. Leave a legacy.