How Leadership Won the 2020 State of Origin
By Kevin Sampath · 19 November 2020
Originally published on LinkedIn.
Is everyone over the worst State of Origin in history yet? I’m not! For an Origin series played after the NRL season ended, the performances started lacklustre — but I’ve taken so many lessons from a tremendous leader in Wayne Bennett (and note, this hurts to say, because I love NSW and hate when QLD win).
1. Convince your team that they’re great (and valuable)
Bennett is a man who sees the best in his team, draws it out of them, and makes them see it for themselves. That is genuinely a skill — and nothing beats years of experience in helping individuals trust in themselves. Kurt Capewell and Christian Welch dominating an Origin series? I would’ve mocked you if you’d told me that at the start.
In business: your job as a leader isn’t just allocating work. It’s making people believe they’re capable of more than they think — and then watching them prove you right.
2. Stay calm in the midst of a storm
Remember the end of Game 2, when QLD got dominated by NSW, and Bennett was chilling post-game, laughing with his players? He knew. He may not have known they’d do it in Game 3 — but he knew the calibre of his players, trusted his processes, and let his calm rub off on the team. Anyone who watched the first ten minutes of Origin 3 would think we’d skipped the second game entirely.
In business: when the numbers are ugly or the project’s on fire, your team takes its emotional cues from you. Calm is contagious. So is panic.
3. Take the blame, share the credit
QLD win Game 1 — Bennett: “These players are unbelievable.” QLD lose Game 2 — Bennett: “Blame it on me as the coach.”
What?! That’s immense leadership: take accountability when the going gets tough, give the credit away when things go well. Respect.
4. Set the standard
QLD’s players have always set an immense standard of heart, courage and responsibility in each other. No matter who wears the maroon jersey, they pay homage to those who wore it before them. Translated to a leadership setting: set the standard you want your team to achieve, and make sure that standard is never compromised.
There’s a line we use inside myrtl that captures it: the standard you walk past is the standard you accept.
I strongly dislike QLD winning another series, but I seriously respect great leadership. The dynasty begins again next year for NSW. C’mon boys!