3 key lessons business professionals can learn from the all-conquering All Blacks

I was born and spent the first 23 years of my life in New Zealand before moving to the greatest country on earth Australia (that makes me a KOZZIE - Kiwi Ozzie) but I still and will forever support the All Blacks sorry Wallabies !!!!!!!!

I wanted to be an All Black growing up (like most New Zealand boys and some girls) but I had one really big problem, I didn't like to tackle or be tackled, so unfortunately I had to let that dream fade away into the sunset.

Photo by www.dailycal.org

But what makes this team so good, here are some stats:

• They are the current world sports team of the year, beating the likes of 2015 NBA champions Golden State Warriors, the Mercedes Formula One team, the Great Britain Davis Cup tennis team, European soccer club giants Barcelona and women's soccer world champions the United States.
• They are on a run of 15 wins in a row, the world record for tier 1 nations is 18 (which they share) and the overall record is 24
• They are the current world rugby champions and first to win this tournament back to back (2011 and 2015) and first country to win 3 rugby world cups
• They have dominated and currently hold every trophy against every rugby playing nation that they can hold trophies against - sorry too many to mention we would be here all day.

Get my point and this consistency of dominance is spanned over 100 years.

Much of the All Blacks on field success is because of their off field success.

Here are 3 lessons you can learn to help your businesses.

1. They Sweep The Changing Rooms - Humility

Before leaving the dressing room at the end of the game, some of the most famous names in world rugby – including Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Mils Muliana – stop and tidy up after themselves.

They literally and figuratively 'sweep the sheds'. Former All Black Andrew Mehrtens describes it as an example of personal humility, a cardinal All Blacks value.

Though it might seem strange for a team of imperious dominance, humility is core to their culture.

The All Blacks believe that it's impossible to achieve stratospheric success without having your feet planted firmly on the ground.

2. Leave the jersey in a better place - Better people make better businessman

The All Blacks have long had a saying: ‘leave the jersey in a better place’.

An All Black is, by definition, a role model to schoolchildren across New Zealand. Understanding this responsibility creates a compelling sense of higher purpose. It's a good lesson for us all: if we play a bigger game, we play a more effective game.

Better people make better All Blacks – but they also make better doctors and lawyers, bankers and businessmen, fathers, brothers, and friends.

3. Keep a blue head - Perform under pressure

Following their arguably premature exit at the 2003 World Cup, the All Blacks worked with forensic psychiatrist Ceri Evans to understand how the brain works under pressure. They wanted to overcome their habit of choking.

'Red Head' is an unresourceful state in which you are off task, panicked and ineffective. 'Blue Head', on the other hand, is an optimal state in which you are on task and performing to your best ability.

The All Blacks use triggers to switch from Red to Blue. Richie McCaw stamps his feet, literally grounding himself, while Kieran Read stares at the farthest point of the stadium, searching for the bigger picture.

Using these triggers, the players aim to achieve clarity and accuracy, so they can perform under pressure.

I'm an actor who believes we all have triggers to any stage of emotion. It's not always easy to find but it's still there.

Hugh Jackman

Now that you know what it takes to be the best sporting team in the world , hopefully it's inspired you to tell the world your story.

You never know, your post may start that conversation with your next investor or business partner; it may get you noticed by others in your company or industry and help enhance your reputation as a thought leader. But most of all, it may simply help others.

Would love to hear your thoughts. What was the one thing you have learnt from this article? And how will you apply that within your business moving forward?

Written by Steve Fazakerley

CEO and Founder - Echoes Messages